A/N: Apologies for any medical inaccuracies ahead. I am not a doctor, nor a historian, but I tried my best.
Sam couldn't stop thinking about the man he poisoned.
Sure, they were bad people, and it was Dutch who threw the knife, but he was the one who tipped it with poison. The way those men screamed in horror was terrifying and he was the one who caused it. It wasn't any different than the fire he started on that Cornwall owned property, but at least then he didn't have to see their reactions.
Last night, he had fallen asleep in Dutch's arms, being told comforting things about love or some nonsense like that. In the morning, he was caught up in the memory of his actions.
And still, he couldn't get the sound of that man choking on his blood out of his head.
What was he doing? He was a thief, but now he was a killer.
Knock! Knock!
Sam nearly jumped three feet into the air at the sound, which he was glad he didn't. His eyes opened, seeing the soapy bubbles on the surface of the water and glanced at the door.
"Would you like someone to take over for you?" a female voice asked kindly.
"No, thank-you," said Sam.
"Okay, no problem then," the voice said. Sam heard footsteps walk away and then they faded away.
Sam sighed and leaned back in the bath he sat in. It wasn't expensive to have a wash at the hotel, so he decided to get one. It had been too long since he had a bath, and now he couldn't have one any time now that he didn't have a home. He had never felt his hair get so greasy and his hair got so tangled, but the soap and water was helping. He also thought that taking a bath would help clear his head, but it was doing the opposite, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He was mostly done anyway, so he stood, stepping out and putting his bare feet on the mat just off to the side of the bathtub. Towels had been set for him, so he used one to dry off his body and the other to dry his hair the best he could.
Once he was dressed, Sam made his way back towards his hotel room, leaving his hair loose for a bit to dry up. Dutch was already awake and reading the newspaper that had been laying around the hallway for anyone to pick up. Dutch just bit back a laugh seeing how long Sam's hair actually was, not his was much shorter, but he smiled a little to see him looking better. It was a huge improvement from the trembling form he was trying to calm down last night.
"Decided to treat yourself?" said Dutch.
"Been a while…" said Sam. "And I think Miss Grimshaw would've tossed me into a lake if I waited any longer."
Dutch chuckled. "She's done it before, so I wouldn't doubt her on that." He closed the paper and tossed it aside. "Well, we've been here long enough. We should head back to camp soon, before folks start worrying." As much as he didn't want to leave Sam alone, it was probably smart. "Let's head back separately, so we can make sure we ain't followed."
Sam sighed. The sun had come out and the skies were clearing. Light was shining through the windows. "Do you think it was okay? To… poison that man?"
Dutch shrugged. "Scared the other bastards long enough for us to get them, right?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah…" he said, softly.
"Look, we can't get hung up on everyone we kill," said Dutch. "We'd drive ourselves crazy." Sam didn't flinch this time when Dutch placed a hand on his shoulder. "We're just trying to survive and we need to defend ourselves, and because of you those folks we help can go back home to their families safely. Okay?"
The young man gave another nod, but this time he smiled a little. "Okay." That man wasn't his first kill and he certainly wasn't going to be the last. At least, not until he found his uncle's killer.
Dutch was smiling, when he let go of the boy. He walked towards the other side of the room to gather his stuff. "We should be careful of Brandon's men. They trust us now, but we should keep our distance to be safe. You never know with those types of people. I'll head back to camp first, and you should check on the mail. Do you remember our alias?"
"Uh, Arthur said it was something like, 'Tacitus Kilgore'?"
"That's the one."
"Alright. I'll pick it up before I go back to camp."
With his hair drier and tied back up, Sam put on his hat and went down to the post office, which was in the train station. Asking for "Tacitus Kilgore" was asking for mail for the camp. He just didn't take into account how much mail there would be. He didn't think some of the people in the gang would get mail.
It was nice to Dutch to trust him with the mail… too bad he shouldn't. With a giddy smile, Sam just couldn't resist and just had to open them. So he ran outside and sat down on the nearest bench. He kind of had to open them anyway to find out who the mail was for. The gang tended to stick to themselves, but he wasn't surprised that they still met people on their travels. Pearson seemed to have someone he was writing to named Cathy, and he seemed to "exaggerate" about his life, if Sam could call it that.
Sam gasped when he opened one of the envelopes. It was for Arthur. He covered his mouth and shook his head. He added it back to the pile and tried to continue, but that thought in the back of his head, just wouldn't stop screaming at him. He had read every other letter, because he was a nosy bastard, but he couldn't read Arthur's… right?
Sam's eyes kept looking back at the sorted letter pile. He had to get through the others; there was no time for that.
Damn it!
He reached his hand and snatched the letter back.
Dear Arthur,
I've written this letter a hundred times or more and I cannot get it right. It's me. You know it's me from the bad handwriting. I know I said when we last spoke and I was going off to get married, that we would not speak again. I know I said a lot of things and I meant them. I suppose, at the time, but I am not so proud as to not speak to people who care for me, or cared for me.
I've been in Valentine for a couple of months. I had some bad luck and, well, it's a long story and not an interesting one, but I am here now. I saw a couple of the girls, or whatever the polite term is for them, that ran with you and your associates in town and I heard tell of a man who sounded like you. I would love to see you again. If you could spare me a little bit of your time. I'm renting a room at Chadwick Farm, just north of Valentine.
Yours,
Mary Linton
It was not his place to decide this, but he wasn't sure Arthur should see this woman. It sounded like an old flame. But again, that wasn't up to him. If he wanted to torture himself with something as stupid as love, then that was his deal.
He kept looking and then found one addressed to him.
To Samuel Hawkeson:
Thank you for taking an interest in my services. I cannot thank-you enough for what you've done yesterday to help those townspeople. As promised, I will let you know once we are ready to pursue Rick Sullivan. In the meantime, should you want to help me more, I do have other jobs you could take part in. We will pay you for it, of course. All communication from now on, will be from my associates at the train stations. Just let them know what a discouraged man you are, and they should help you.
From, yours truly,
Brandon Marrows
Sam closed the letter. He could use the money, and Dutch could also use the money. He made it clear that they needed plenty of that and couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with what happened in Blackwater.
There was no way he could stick around if the law caught up with them. He couldn't afford to be caught in that if the Pinkertons showed up, but since he owed a debt to Dutch, did he even have a choice? He was already drawing attention to himself, messing with Cornwall's properties and John said something about stealing an oil barrel to stop that train he wanted to rob. He wanted Sam to put his so-called thief skills to use, even if he's never stolen an entire wagon before… unless he counted "borrowing" the wagon from the Downes' Ranch.
With all the mail gathered in his bag, he mounted his horse, Aurora, and rode back towards camp. He followed the trail, which followed the train tracks and went off into the small patch of forest.
"Who goes there?" It sounded like Lenny.
"It's Sam!"
"Welcome back!"
Sam rode into camp and looked around for Lily, but saw no sign of her. He also didn't see Arthur, Charles or Sadie, so he assumed they were still out looking for that bear. So he hitched his horse, and walked towards his tent, saying his greetings and briefly explaining where he had been, if Dutch hadn't told them already. He saw that Dutch's tent was closed, but he saw Molly having some quiet time by the cliffs, so he must be busy with something. It was usually a message to not disturb him, so he kept to himself and got ready to hand out the mail he got.
"Heya, Hawkeson!" said Micah.
Sam set down the letters carefully. "What is it, Micah?" he said nonchalantly.
"Just saying hi," he said. Sam glanced over and saw that he was staying just outside of the medical tent. "Heard ya killed some O'Driscolls back there."
"Yeah, did Dutch tell you that or something?"
"Something like that. Quite a business. Guess you ain't as wimpy as I thought."
"Uh, I'll take that as a compliment, I guess," said Sam. "So, is there anything you want in particular?"
"Well, you're part of the gang now," said Micah. "Makes us brothers."
Arthur warned Sam about Micah. He said that if said anything to him to just ignore it, and to do his utmost to stay away from him.
But he couldn't stop himself from listening when Micah said what he was about to.
"I'm real sorry to hear how the town's treating ya these days, but… I saw Lily go into town."
"Yeah? She can go by herself."
"But, I saw her with that feller you was ranting about to Arthur the other day."
Sam's breath hitched. He turned to him slowly. He couldn't mean Archie, right?
"She what?"
Dutch hated admitting stuff to Hosea… especially when it came to admitting defeat in a battle of wits, but he didn't invite Hosea and close the tent flaps for privacy for nothing. He sat down on his cot and decided to explain himself.
Hosea was smiling, but there was something in the back of his mind that worried him. What did his old friend find out?
Once the old man was settled, the younger of the two closed his book from Evelyn Miller and finally found the courage to say it.
"You were right."
Hosea blinked really hard twice while he made eye contact with Dutch. "I'm sorry. What?"
"I said… you were right!" Dutch grumbled. "That boy. He's… He's, uh…" His went quiet, an usual sight for Hosea, or an unusual sound. "My boy."
"You sure?"
"That was my pocket watch, Hosea. And, my Annabelle's photo was still there." He took off his hat, the tension of what he just realized just suddenly made the tent hotter than usual, with the flaps closed during the day. "I didn't get it. I have Arthur and John, but when I found out-"
Hosea couldn't help but try to stifle a laugh. "You was like this when John joined us, too." He copped a seat right next to him on his cot. Dutch had discovered he had a blood-related son, but he still looked very down and confused. "What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy."
"In the middle of this Hosea?" said Dutch. "We're alive. We're living, and now I have a son who's living, but… I don't understand. Out of all the people who'd doubt me… Why?"
"Why what, Dutch?"
"She betrayed me…" The leader spoke softly. He set his hat aside and ran his calloused fingers through his dark hair. "Annabelle. She lied to me all this time… but why? After everything we'd been through…"
Hosea shrugged. "I wish I knew, Dutch. I really do, but a camp of outlaws ain't no place to raise a boy."
"Abigail's got Jack, and he's happy with us." His voice finally went back to normal and was back to using his boldness again, while still trying to make sure he was quiet enough that no one would hear him.
"But for how long? How long can we keep the boy safe from what we do? It's gonna catch up to us."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!"
Their voices fell to the silence of a pause. Despite Hosea's theories, the answer could be almost impossible to find out. Annabelle had been dead for almost fifteen years.
"Think about it this way, Dutch," Hosea said, after a while. "You may not have been there for the first… twenty-seven years of his life… but you can certainly be there the next. But for now, we need to keep ourselves focused on the whole camp, not just us and him." He patted his friend on the back. "You have two other sons. Remember that."
"So it turns out Lily might be telling the truth, after all," said Karen. The sun had just disappeared over the horizon and she had walked by some of the tents she shared with girls and Mary Beth was sitting underneath the shade with a book.
Mary-Beth looked up curiously. "How do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know… some lady I was speaking to in town told me about a curse, too."
"I knew it," Mary-Beth practically said, happily. "Now nothing's more romantic than a curse."
"Exactly… a prince turned into a toad, lovers into stone, entire country turned into morons… curses everywhere."
"Well, did she say anything else than what Lily said?"
"Didn't understand all of it on the account of her being an idiot, but Lily was right about it being about something about a massacre… and a last surviving Indian cursing the county."
"Well, if they massacred people, they deserved to be cursed," Mary-Beth said, sternly.
"'Course."
"But what was it? W-Was it just bad luck or bad weather or something else?"
Karen shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Something about an Eagle or an Owl and a grave site...I didn't really get it…"
Sam sighed and laid back down in his cot. His ears picked up on the girls' conversation. He got up a few times to do some chores to keep Miss Grimshaw off his back, but he didn't really feel like doing anything else. His chest held a dull ache from panicking the previous two nights, and he just wanted to rest without telling anyone else what was going on. Knowing his luck, however, he only knew that with the frequent conversations Dutch had with Hosea, he'd tell him about it eventually. He wasn't scared about him knowing. If anything, he knew Hosea would keep a secret for him without even having to ask.
Then, like a drop of the hat, he heard horses, and he swung himself back into a sitting position. Arthur was with Lily and others, carrying a huge bear pelt into the camp and over to Pearson's table.
"Mrs. Adler. So, you're still alive," said Pearson.
"We hunted a bear!" Lily said, excitedly.
"I… enjoyed myself today, Mr. Morgan. And thanks for the tips, Mr. Smith."
Charles just gave her a nod.
"Sure," said Arthur. "Maybe we can do this again."
Sadie laughed. "If you can keep up, sure."
"Well, they say I lack finesse, but I ain't afraid of gunsmoke."
Lily was wandering back towards the medical tent. Sam dusted off his hat, and just sat there, waiting for his cousin to come in. When she did, Sam had opened a book, only to close it and set aside.
"I'm back!" she said. Her hair looked messy and her clothes were a bit torn and dirty from what Sam assumed were the few days she spent in the wild, but she seemed okay… Or were they from something else?
"Yes, it looks like it," said Sam. "I'm glad you're okay. Welcome back."
"So, how did it go with Dutch? Did you find Brandon?"
"Yeah, he's alright…"
"Oh good. There was a storm last night and I got worried."
Sam smiled a little, happy that his cousin was worried for him. There, he explained how the past two days went in some detail, but Lily wouldn't let up on how he handled the storm, so Sam was forced to admit how Dutch managed to calm him down and was surprisingly understanding. He wasn't sure about Brandon and his silent partner, Rose, but he figured as long as one doesn't cross the other, they should be fine.
"Little Creek River?" said Lily. "That's all the way in West Elizabeth."
"We've summered there a few times," said Sam. "I should know the area a little."
"I guess. I'll go with you, and Sadie's been itching to kill some O'Driscolls herself."
"I need quiet on these jobs."
"She can be quiet. Come on, please?" She was sitting down next to Sam and leaning into him like a small child.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Fine. I need some hands who haven't been associated with the gang long enough to fall under the O'Driscolls' watchful eyes. Besides, if Kieran won't talk to me, he might talk to her."
Lily raised a brow. Not once had Sam made eye contact with her.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know." He suddenly stood, standing over her like an angry parent. "Is there, uh… something you wanna tell me?"
Lily shifted a little in her seat. "What do you mean?"
Sam rolled her eyes. "Oh, I think you know what I mean… going off to see Archie behind my back!"
Arthur inhaled the last of his cigarette and tossed the remains into the dirt. He gave a nod to some of the girls he chatted with and then began to wander towards his tent for the night. As he got closer, he walked past the campfire some of the men were at, but saw no sign of John, to his relief.
He began to register the voices of Sam and Lily. They were getting louder and angrier.
"Hey, Morgan!" Micah said, who was sitting around the fire. So, that explained why the seats around the fire were mostly empty, apart from Bill and Javier. "Want a seat?" Arthur noticed he wasn't staring at the fire.
"What are you doing?" said Arthur.
Micah snickered to himself. "Just… enjoying the show." He grinned and Arthur saw that he was watching the argument between Sam and Lily unfold.
"The hell is wrong with you?" And Arthur just stormed off towards his tent, while Micah just laughed. Arthur just ignored it, and tried to ignore Sam and Lily yelling.
"I know you love him," said Sam, "but you'd still love him after what he did?"
"His family said-"
"His family said, after what Uncle Cliff has done, keeping their asses healthy throughout their lives, being there for every holiday, celebration and funeral, and then the second he's gone, they tell us we're on our own! And you'd still love him?!" Sam crossed arms and sighed irritably.
Lily stared at the floor, her once delicate hands now sore from all the hard work were being held together intertwining fingers.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't want to lie to you, but I promise I won't-"
"Yeah, you won't!" Sam said, turning back to her suddenly. He stormed up to her. "Because I forbid you to see him again!"
Arthur, who was still sitting in cot at his tent, caught his head in hands and inwardly groaned. That was the last thing you'd ever want to say to a woman.
Lily cocked her head, her eyes locked onto who was basically her brother and her mouth was held open for a second. They stood there in silence. Sam kept his stern gaze, but pulled down a gulp at this "staredown," if that was what he could call it.
"Oh." Lily finally said. "Is that how it is?"
Sam took a sharp inhale. "Yeah. It is. He's just gonna break your heart!"
"You didn't think that before," Lily snapped. She then stifled a laugh. "Oh, wait. He broke yours at daddy's funeral, is that it?"
"And you would tolerate that, even if what you're spouting is true?"
"No, I wouldn't!" She pressed a finger into chest, the nail poking through the fabric. "But I, unlike you, can forgive."
"So, you're gonna let these people push you around?"
"I'm not going to just leave them because they won't get pulled into what we're doing."
Sam laughed. "'What we're doing?' While I've been out there getting blood on my hands, you've been out hunting and sneaking around with Archie!"
"Well, excuse me for wanting to be there for some new friends and keeping up with the one tie I have to Valentine, since you keep breaking all the other ones! Are you that caught up in yourself, that you have to make everyone feel like you?!"
"I'm just trying to protect you!"
"Then stop it! We're part of the gang, now! Not just you!"
Sam backed away and shrugged. "Well, your sneaking off with Archie says otherwise."
"Oh, I'm not a part of the gang? I don't help? I just helped take down a thousand pound bear for the gang! I'll do whatever I goddamn want!"
"Fine!" Sam shouted. "Then, do it!"
Lily reached for her bag. "Fine! Maybe I'll go see him right now!" She started storming towards her horse.
"Fine!" Sam yelled.
"Fine!"
"FINE!" Sam yanked the tent flaps shut and that was the last anyone in the camp heard from them for the night. Lily had stormed up to her horse, and rode back towards Valentine.
Arthur sighed. He wondered if he should say something, but he thought the best course of action for family like them to do for now, was to just cool off. Besides, he wasn't the best, when it came to stuff like feelings. Hell, he's been ignoring and making snide remarks at John for months.
He was about to go to sleep, but then, he saw the letter on his nightstand.
The next morning was quieter than last night. The camp had its fair share of spats amongst campers. Usually, it was Miss Grimshaw doing the yelling, but sometimes it was amongst the boys.
Sam, however, awoke to what he kind of expected after last night. There was an empty cot across from him. He sighed, and stood to try and eat something.
She actually went back to him… Sam thought, as he went to sit at a table with a bowl of food. It was mostly just some veggies poured out from a can, and held over a fire for a few minutes. Now that he didn't have an uncle or cousin cooking for him, and the food was shared, he had to at least try when it came to feeding himself. Too bad the only drinks they had to wash it down with, was only water, whiskey and coffee.
He chose the whiskey.
"Everything okay?" Lenny said, who was reading a book next to him.
"You know…" Sam said. "Just family troubles…"
"Yeah, it got pretty heated. The whole camp could hear it."
Sam just stared at his food, and he felt a bit of heat on his face. "Sorry. I'm still getting used to sleeping around a neighborhood of tents." He glanced at the girls tent, seeing that Kieran was talking to Mary-Beth. The girl seemed to be okay with him being around.
"You're very pretty," Kieran mumbled. "I'm sorry, I'm not being forward, or nothing… but you are."
"...You're very sweet," Mary-Beth responded, softly. "Strange and… horrible and an O'Driscoll, but… sweet."
Kieran then stood from where he was sitting. "I'm not an O'Driscoll, miss!"
Sam scrunched his nose and with a small huffed, stabbed some pieces of carrots with his fork, harshly. The scene and last night was so stupid.
"Love…" Sam grumbled. "So stupid…"
"Well, what's stupid is telling a woman what to do about it!" Sam looked up from his breakfast and locked eyes with Sadie. "I don't know what wrecked your heart, but you don't seem to get it."
"What I get is that it breaks hearts and turns people into idiots." He jumped when Sadie slammed the table with her palm. Even Lenny was startled.
"So my marriage with my Jackie was stupid?!" she then hissed.
Sam held up his hands in surrender, trying not to incur the woman's wrath any further.
"N-No ma'am!" he then said. "I would never!"
Arthur had read the letter he received over and over. He didn't know what to do. What could seriously happen if he went to see her? Or was he expecting something more deep down? Or maybe he was just being ridiculous?
Or maybe he just needed a sign.
"Are we good on ammo?" said Javier. He walked by briefly. Arthur hid the letter and, knowing what guns he usually carried, searched the wagon his tent was set up by. There were a few cartridges, but not many. He knew he'd have to restock soon.
"Thank-you," Javier said, as Arthur handed the ammo to him. Arthur sat back down and sighed. Restocking? He'll take it. He just needed to figure out where Chadwick Farm was.
Sam ran back into his tent and was ready to just knock everything over in there, in a fit of rage. Sadie was just grieving, but so was he! He loved Lily as the family she was to him, despite not being cousins by blood, but just like he said: All love did was bring him pain, eventually.
He sat down on his cot. What if Lily didn't come back? It scared him more than thunderstorms. He pulled down a gulp, he was close to crying and he hated himself for acting like a five-year-old.
"Sam, you in here?"
Arthur's voice alone dried the tears up pretty quick. He was in a gang now. He had to act like it.
"Yeah?"
"You alright?" he peeked in from outside. Sam wasn't surprised at all that he heard him and Lily yelling last night.
"Just… dandy," said Sam.
"I need to make a trip into town and restock on ammo for the camp. You wanna ride with me?"
Sam nodded. Some fresh air could do him some good. "Sure. I'll get the carriage ready."
Arthur smiled. At least he was more competent than Uncle who would sleep by the damn carriage all day.
Arthur decided it wouldn't be the best to bring up whatever the beef was going between Sam and his cousin. He still thought it was funny that Sam thought he could tell a woman what to do when it came to love. Sam thought it was strange that Arthur had his horse follow them. It was just a trip for supplies, and they weren't going to leave the wagon in town.
They stopped at the gun store. Sam was the first one in, looking around like a child in a candy shop. Arthur just got to work, telling the shop owner about a huge order of ammo he needed. Then, told him the cover up story that Dutch told him to go with: They were itinerant workers. They were laid off after they shut down their factory to the north. And if they asked, Sam, just so happened to "befriend" Tacitus Kilgore before the O'Driscoll Raid. So, he was offered shelter with them, now that his home was in ruins.
While Arthur was picking out stocks of ammo, Sam was looking through the catalogue. He was fixated on buying a lot of things. Another holster seemed nice, but he wasn't sure how he could handle himself, holding a gun in each hand, and getting a new gun belt, in general sounded like fun. Or maybe he could buy himself another Volcanic Pistol if he got another holster. He already bought an attachment to put away the hunting knife he got from Charles.
"Well, I think we're about finished here," said Arthur. He watched as the shopkeeper began loading crates onto the cart. "Sam, you know where Chadwick Farm is?"
"Oh, yeah," said Sam. "It's just a field north from the stables. You can't miss it? Why?"
Arthur sighed. As he reached into his bag, his hand brushed the letter, before he found the cash and left it on the counter.
"I… There's just some business that needs taking care of."
"Oh. Do you need any help? I'll come with you."
"N-No!" Arthur immediately responded. "It ain't like that, it's just… Just let me handle this. You get the supplies back to camp, and I'll meet you there."
"Uh… okay," said Sam.
Sam tipped his hat as Arthur walked away from the gun store and down the street, with his horse following him. He wondered what he could want at Chadwick Farm, but if he didn't want him involved, it sounded dangerous. At least, more dangerous than the usual job.
"I'm almost done," the shop owner said, loading another crate.
"Alright," said Sam. "Thank-you." He looked out onto the street, taking in the sounds of the people, horses, and the smell of mud, and fresh dirt. It was kind of quiet. He sighed, and pulled out a small brandy to down real quick, before helping the shopkeeper.
"Sam?"
The young man couldn't help, but almost spit out his drink at the noise. He managed to swallow it all, before turning and finding that Lily had been walking down the street. A small cough escaped him from some of the drink in his throat and just tossed the empty bottle aside. He leaned against the cart, looking at the bunch of ammo that was loaded and sighed.
"Hey."
"What, uh… What are you doing?"
"Ammo resupply for the camp."
"I, uh… I was going to l-look for you, actually."
Sam's gaze fell on the pistol cartridges and then the repeaters. "Why?" he said, flatly.
"It's, uh… It's… I need you to go with me to the Downes' Ranch."
Sam huffed. He finally brought himself to look at his cousin. "So, you walk out in the middle of the night, don't come back the next morning, and now you want me to do something for you?"
"You were being unreasonable!" Lily snapped. "I thought last night would give time to calm down!"
"Oh, I need to calm down?" Sam shrugged and began to storm towards the store to get the rest of the ammo.
"Mr. Downes is dying!"
And that stopped Sam right in his tracks. He turned back, his glare softened.
"Well… we both knew his time was limited, Lily."
"But I don't know… I-I… He collapsed just walking around and… h-he was doing so much better."
"There's no getting better from what he has." He sighed, when he heard Lily sniffle. "So, we're not good enough to help the Downes financially, but we're good enough to help them when someone's on their deathbed?"
"P-Please… Can't you do something?" said Lily. "At least give him something to ease the pain!"
"Cliff taught you, too. You do it."
"I… I can't be alone. Not again... for this."
Sam rolled his eyes. "You left me alone!" he then spat. "I'm getting ammo and going back to camp!" The shopkeeper headed out with the last crate. "Hey. Watch my stuff, I need to go find my friend."
"Sure thing." said the man.
"Never thought you'd leave me, too…" Sam hissed as he walked into the street. Lily sat down on the bench nearby and began to weep. The shopkeeper just watched Sam go, and shook his head.
Sam was practically running to get the hell out of this town. Whatever business Arthur had on Chadwick Farm better be quick. He held a hand on the gun in his holster, just in case.
However, when he got there, he didn't hear any gunshots, or people yelling. There weren't any thugs, either. He just saw the same old Chadwick Farm, and Arthur was just standing on the porch, talking to some woman who zipped back inside. He had his hat off, and was holding it in his hands. He knew he was more aware of surroundings than the average person, but he seemed completely distracted enough to not even notice Sam around. What was he doing?
Over by the pen where the sheep were kept, Sam crouched down behind a large crate that was next to a wagon. He took off his own hat, but kept it close, and peeked without trying to reveal the top of his head too much.
The front door opened again, but that weird hostile woman who always hung there didn't answer the door this time. Instead a very pretty woman stepped out.
"Whoa…" Sam whispered.
The woman's hair was dark, but shiny. Her eyes were brown and her eyelashes were a bit long but even. She had a small beauty mark on the side of cheek and white pearl earrings. She had a red broach on her dark turquoise corset that was decorated with a golden color, and her long skirt was navy blue.
While they said their greetings, Sam suddenly remembered the letter he read yesterday. So that woman must be Mary Linton. So that's why he was here.
"Where's what's his name?" said Arthur.
Mary looked to the floor. "Died."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah, me too." She frowned, but looked the outlaw in the eyes again. "Happened a while ago… pneumonia."
"Bad business."
"Sure."
That didn't explain why she was here, though. What was it? She didn't talk to him for years, and that her husband is dead, she's reaching out?
"So, uh… well, y-y-you've been…" Arthur cleared his throat. It was surprising to Sam. He was never one to stutter, "you've been made a widow and… you come here looking for me, is that it?"
"No, ain't like that, Arthur."
"Oh, okay…"
Suddenly, Mary was shaken up a little. Words were becoming hard to form. "I… My family… I need your help."
Arthur squinted. "You mean the family that always looked down on me. You want me to help them."
"It's my little brother, Jamie."
Arthur scoffed. Sam hid himself even deeper, when Arthur turned away from the woman. "I always liked Jamie… at least compared to the rest of them." He rested his hands on the railing of the porch. Mary, while hesitant, joined him.
"He's broken daddy's heart…" Mary spoke, softly.
"Daddy has a heart?"
"Don't make me beg you, Arthur."
"My money, my life, me… I wasn't good enough."
"I'm sorry. We need your help real bad. Little Jamie's joined… the Chelonians… that strange religious order."
Arthur shrugged. "Good for him."
"They're quite mad, Arthur. They'll kill him. You're the only person he'd listen to."
Arthur sighed. "So, I'm too rough to marry into your family… but it's okay to ask me to help in saving your family?"
"I'm sorry," Mary said again. "I understand if you don't wanna help me, but… but I think of you often."
The outlaw shook his head. "A long time ago now."
"I'm begging you, Arthur."
"I say let Jamie live Jamie's life, and not the… nightmare that his daddy dreamed up for him." Hat in hand, Arthur began to walk away.
"Jamie's so innocent, Arthur," Mary pleaded.
Arthur stopped, and with a sigh he turned back.
"Please, Arthur," said Mary. "Will you help me?"
The next thing Sam heard was complete silence. He peeked up, ever so slightly from behind the crate, seeing that the two were still there, but Arthur was just undecided.
Arthur had a long history with Mary, and her family weren't the most pleasant to be around… at least when it came to people like him. Sometimes, he couldn't blame them, seeing as he was an outlaw, but other times, he wished they understood him like Dutch and Hosea… and all his friends in the gang, but that was only because they were outlaws like him.
Arthur wasn't sure. He loved Mary at one point, and so did she at one point. They loved once and true. Was it really worth digging up old dirt just for a favor?
"Please, Arthur," said Mary. "I… I know it's a lot to ask."
He sighed. "Where is he?"
"Somewhere out near Carmody Dell, I think. The rancher there said he'd… seen him around the Cumberland Forest area. I just want him back, Arthur. If you find him, bring him to me at the station."
Arthur nodded quickly, and then headed down the steps. "I'll see what I can do." Somehow, the sun seemed to shine brighter since he decided to help.
Mary leaned against the railing, watching him go. "I'll owe you."
"You already owe me."
Sam just stayed where he was, his legs outstretched as he heard Arthur's horse getting further and further away. From what it sounded, she was the one who did the leaving, not him. So, why is he helping her? Would he still do it, even after everything? Should he?
The young man sighed. He wasn't stupid. They loved, once and true, and that was why Arthur was doing it.
"Are you that caught up in yourself, that you have to make everyone feel like you?!"
He pulled out another bottle of whiskey. Who was he kidding? Love like that was stupid, but he couldn't give up the one he had with Lily because of a disagreement. Usually, it was Cliff who would help them to patch things up, but he wasn't around anymore. Or maybe part of him once yearned for a type of love that Lily and Archie shared and the one that Arthur and Mary once shared.
Sam took another sip. A love like that was impossible for him. He learned once he explained it to his uncle. He hated Archie for just leaving them to fend for themselves and not offering any sort of help. He hated Archie for saying that at his own uncle's funeral. Lily could forgive, but he couldn't forget.
But the last thing he needed right now was for him and his cousin to be fighting. They needed each other.
"S-Sam… please…" Lily pleaded. Sam had made it back to the gun store, and tossed the shopkeeper a nice tip for putting up with their drama.
"I'm going to take this back to camp."
Lily stood from the bench and almost threw herself at him. Her eyes were still wet with tears, her face was all flushed, but Sam stopped her as she ran towards him, with a held out hand.
"B-But-"
"And then, I'll meet you at the ranch."
It was quite a trek through the forest, but Arthur had been out past these parts while looking for that bear with the others. Up the path he found a small clearing on top of the cliffs. There were few tents scattered around and a gathering of people at the center by the edge. They were all wearing these strange white clothes and they had the emblem of a turtle on the front. Among them, he saw the young boy that Mary was looking for. The last time Arthur saw him, he was just a kid, but he still remembered after all those years.
"And what is Chelonianism?" Arthur heard from what he assumed was one of the leaders of this wacky group. "No less than the recent rediscovery… of theology."
"Gentlemen," Arthur called out.
Suddenly, all of the men got up, muttering something like, "shell of safety" to one another and gathered around the man who was talking all that nonsense to them. Jamie was among them.
Arthur walked up carefully. They weren't armed, there were a lot of them, but he didn't want to traumatize the boy.
"Can I speak to the boy?" the outlaw asked.
Jamie tilted his head. He locked eyes with the man before him. "Arthur?"
"Hello, son. Your sister is very worried."
"The boy has chosen a path, sir," the Chelonian Master said. He stepped forward from his followers. "The path to truth."
"Well… his sister just wants to speak with him," said Arthur.
"Arthur…" Jamie tried to step forward, but the others held him back. "I've chosen a path."
"The boy has chosen a path, he's chosen safety..." said the master. "What path have you chosen, sir?"
The outlaw still thought what was going on was crazy, but for some reason, that question really did make him think for a moment. What path was he on? He had been thinking about the safety of the gang, but what about himself? He shook his head, there wasn't time for that, but again, he didn't want this to escalate.
"I'm… still searching, I guess," he answered.
"We are all searching…" said the master. "Chelonianism is all about searching. What do we search for, do you think?"
"I don't know, safety? Safety and meaning?"
The master grinned slightly and then gestured to Jamie. "Jamie knows the truth. But of course you may speak with him."
Arthur nodded. "Exactly… if your teachings are so great… what harm can I do?"
"I'm…" Jamie stepped back when Arthur reached out his hand. "I'm not…" Suddenly, he just bolted towards a horse. "I'm not coming with you, Arthur."
"Just come and speak with Mary… then make up your mind," Arthur called. But the boy had already hopped onto his horse and started riding away.
"Leave me alone, Arthur! I didn't ask for your help!"
Arthur rolled his eyes. He mounted his horse and started going after him.
Sam kept his word. He dropped the goods off at camp, then he took Aurora, and rode back. He rode through Valentine, back out into the wilderness, crossed a bridge and then found himself back at the Downes' Ranch.
He wasn't shocked to see Archie sitting on the porch with Lily. Actually, Lily seemed more nervous than him, but they were mostly just sad. They perked up a little when they saw Sam coming.
Lily was the first to stand. Her watery eyes sparkled, as he approached. Archie stood up, too, sighing in relief.
Sam sighed, as well, closing his eyes as he held his cousin in his arms. He needed the comfort almost as much as she did.
"Hello…" Archie said, awkward. "I… Thanks for coming…"
Lily stepped back. "You reek…" she mumbled. She already knew what the smell was, but she wondered why.
Sam covered his mouth and muffled a burp. "Don't worry about it." He grimaced at the aftertaste of whiskey he had. "Where is he?"
Archie nodded solemnly. "He's this way…"
They stepped inside. Sam needed a minute. He took off his coat, hat, and fingerless gloves and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He balled his right hand into a fist for a moment, seeing the scar that ran down his arm. Then, he grabbed his satchel and went in.
Mrs. Downes was at the bedside of her husband, who looked pale and was under a nice blanket. He had dark circles over his eyes. His wife was holding his hand. She looked up at Sam, but didn't seem mad at all.
"Thank-you for coming…" Edith said.
Sam nodded. The gravity of the situation began to feel heavy. His chest felt heavy and he pulled down a gulp
"That you, Sam?" Thomas could barely rasp.
Sam tied a handkerchief around himself, pulling it over his nose and mouth. Then he looped the stethoscope around his neck and walked over to the other side of the bed, across from where his wife was.
"Yes, sir," he said. "It's me."
"Thank-you…" Thomas said, softly. He watched Sam walk over to him carefully. He placed ends in ears and the end of the stethoscope on his patient's chest. "Breathe deeply."
One attempt to do so, and the man curled away from Sam and Edith, coughing horribly. The wife stood to get some paper and Sam grimaced when Thomas took it from her, because he used it for his mouth and he saw blood.
Sam set down the stethoscope. He already heard enough. His uncle's former patient's lungs were deteriorating and he could hear the blood flaking in when his lungs drew air. He knew it was a matter of time...
"Oh, Thomas…" Edith said. She wiped the blood off his lip the best she could, sniffling. Lily sat at the table where Sam was sorting out his tools.
"Honey, we've been over this…" said Thomas. "The boy. You have to look after him. Same goes for you, son. L-Look out for your mother."
Archie sniffled and reached for his other hand. "I will, Pa…"
Sam took out medicine he brought and looked around in the kitchen. He put in some water and gave it to Mrs. Downes.
"Should help with the pain…" he muttered. Edith nodded and helped her husband drink it. "It's amazing he's held out as long as he has. You should be proud of at least that."
Thomas made a small weak laugh.
"I'm… sorry…" Sam said to the wife and son… even if Thomas was the only one Sam gave a damn about at this point. It wasn't the time for drama right now.
"I've… I've already said what I needed to say to them…" said Thomas, "But… Thank-you, Sam. Lily. You've done so much, and that goes… for your uncle, too. I hope…" He covered his mouth to cough some more, but no blood came up this time. "You become strong like Cliff, as well. And… I'm happy to be around the people who care about me." The man smiled, a hand on his chest. The pain was mostly gone now, and he felt so at peace despite what was happening. HIs vision blurred, but he took one more gaze and smiled contentedly at the people around him. "So… happy…" And with that, his eyes closed.
"Thomas?" said Edith. She stood from her bedside and started shaking him. "Thomas!"
"Pa!?" said Archie. "Sam, do something!"
Arthur had chased Jamie down the mountain. They went through the trees and out of the forest, heading into the open fields that got greener as they rode east. Jamie was so focused on fleeing from the man that he ran through campsites and disrupted some farmers herding cows, and he certainly didn't see the train coming towards him on the tracks. He managed to make it to the other side, where the train stood between him and Arthur as it passed by.
Arthur dismounted his horse, trying to see him through the passing train cars. The kid had a gun.
"Please, Arthur…" Jamie yelled through the screeching of the wheels on the tracks and the sound of the engines. "I'm a man now… I've found something… a calling."
"You're just a kid…" Arthur stated back, "you're making a big mistake."
Jamie stumbled back a little. "I'm not taking advice from you… you're an outlaw. You leave me alone… they're good people. I'm warning you, Arthur Morgan!" He held the gun, but accidentally fired it into the air, spooking his own horse and causing it to run away. Startled, he turned back to the outlaw. "Leave me alone!"
The train had gone, and Arthur suddenly found himself vulnerable. He still remembered that small child, and now it was holding a gun. Jamie was afraid, but that made him unpredictable. As much as he was scared, Jamie just couldn't find it within himself to shoot Arthur, anyway. He was an outlaw, but he knew once something he could call a friend.
"Please, kid…" Arthur pleaded, his voice low and gentle. "Put that gun down."
Jamie was shaking. "I warn you, Arthur! I'm… I'm gonna…" He stared at the gun, trying to point it at something, but couldn't think of anything. "I don't wanna live anymore!"
"Kid, just calm down…" Arthur's heart jumped at that statement. He suddenly had a horrible feeling of what could happen if he didn't do anything.
"Leave me alone!"
The second Arthur saw Jamie's gun moving up to his own head, he knew he had to take action. He drew his own weapon and shot at the boy. The bullet hit Jamie's gun and it flew out of his hand.
Jamie was shocked and grabbed his wrist in surprise. Arthur holstered his weapon and stormed to the other side of the tracks.
"Now calm down," he said, a bit more sternly. He picked up Jamie's gun. "Let's go see you sister."
Jamie just stood there, shaking. He sniffled and then just ran over and hugged him, which Arthur was shocked himself about.
"Okay…" Jamie said. The outlaw sighed, but kept the gun in his hand and patted the kid's back with the other.
"It's okay, kid," said Arthur.
"Have I been a terrible fool, Arthur?"
Arthur pulled himself away. "I don't know... I don't know enough about it…." He handed Jamie's gun back and guided him to his horse, "but one thing I do know… there ain't no shame in looking for a better world."
"I missed you Arthur," Jamie said, as the outlaw mounted his horse. "Are you and Mary sweet on one another again?" The boy got on from behind him.
"Oh, no… That's all a long time ago, son." And with that, they started riding back towards Valentine.
"I'm sorry…"
Sam could only say it, as Edith wept. She was on her knees, crying at her husband's bedside. Archie was with her, trying to hold back tears and comfort his mother. Sam was too busy embracing his cousin, who wept, while he shed tears of his own. He knew he couldn't do anything else, but somehow, he was glad he came… even if it felt like reliving the night his uncle died.
Thomas Downes was dead.
Edith covered her late husband's body with the blanket and then left to go fetch the undertaker. Archie needed a minute alone, so Sam and Lily just sat outside on steps by the porch. Lily just leaned against him, eyes and body tired from crying, but Sam could still hear the occasional sniffle.
"I, uh… I know this probably ain't an appropriate time…" Sam said, as he rubbed Lily's arm, "but, I'm sorry I was being so immature last night."
Lily squeezed her grip on Sam's arm. "I'm sorry, too… I should've told-"
"No, I would've tried to stop you…" said Sam. He felt more pressure and saw Lily's head pressing into his shoulder.
"I'm glad you were here…"
Sam sniffled. "Yeah. Me too… You ready to head back soon?"
"I'm gonna stay."
"What?!"
Lily raised her head and let Sam go, sitting up. "Just a couple of days." They looked behind themselves, and saw Archie, just destroyed with grief in the house. Now that his mother wasn't around, he was just crying. "Look at him. He needs me." She looked back at her cousin. "Just until they calm down. Please?"
Sam shrugged. At least her horse was there to help watch her. "Fine." His limbs suddenly felt heavy, but he managed to raise himself to his feet. "I should go. I doubt Mrs. Downes wants me here a minute longer."
"Th-That's not…" Lily trailed off. She watched Sam walk towards Aurora. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
The young man had his hands on the saddle. He nodded.
"She said the same thing…" Sam mumbled.
Lily sighed. "I'm sorry…"
"It's okay… I'll… see you in a while…" Sam turned back to give Lily one last hug, and then watched her march back into the house and embrace Archie.
Sam turned away immediately to his horse and sighed. Aurora turned her head, looking at her master with a small snort. He blinked, seeing tears enter his eyes. Maybe he was jealous... Jealous that Lily could fall in love without it being sick. Just because he hated himself for that, didn't mean he should make others feel the same…
He blinked away the tears. Her promise to return in a few days kept repeating in his head.
"Yeah… she said the same thing…" Sam mumbled. With that, he saddled up. "Let's get another drink, girl and a little something for you."
Sam shook his head. The type of love Lily had was not a thing for him, he guessed. The only love he had needed was his family, but a part of that had been taken from him and even that would cause him pain. Sadness was only natural, but he had to get back on his path to finding the man responsible.
Aurora began with a slow trot back into town.
"Jamie!"
Mary stood up from where she was sitting, when Arthur entered the train station with Jamie. She held out her arms.
Arthur just sat down and watched them patch things up.
"Jamie!" And her brother ran into her embrace. "Come home…" Mary pleaded, "please, you've… Father's been very sad."
The young man suddenly pulled away. "Father wouldn't know sadness if it died in his bed…" he grumbled, "but I'll come home… for you…"
Mary smiled. "My boy, my sweet boy… come on." She reached for a bag and handed it to Jamie. "Oh, Arthur…" She grabbed her suitcase and reached out her hand. "Thank-you… thank-you." Arthur however, just grabbed the suitcase offering to hold it for her.
"It's good to see you, Mary," Arthur spoke softly.
"And you, Arthur..." Mary said, "and you…"
The outlaw followed her and Jamie outside. Once Mary was on the train, Arthur handed back her suitcase. She hesitated a moment before heading inside, as the two stared at each other.
"I've…" Mary stuttered. "You're…" She looked away. "Oh, you'll never change…" she said, solemnly. "I know that…"
Arthur just nodded slowly and watched her enter the train car. It wasn't long before it began to move and the outlaw watched them be on their way once more…
I feel like the luckiest man alive and I feel like a fool. That woman confuses me and plays me for a fiddle like no one else alive.
I trust I will not make a god awful fool of myself once more but somehow I imagine I shall.
After writing a bit in his journal, Arthur decided to get a drink. Today just felt crazy, and he felt disappointed. He wasn't sure if it was with today or with himself. Instead of going to Smithfields Saloon, considering how much trouble he caused there, he went to the other one around the corner, known as Keane's Saloon.
Unlike the Smithfield's, this one wasn't as fancy. The wood the building was made out of was old, and there were gaps in the wall, some from wear and tear and other's from bullet holes. At least it was smaller and more quiet.
Arthur then saw someone familiar hunched over one of the tables. Their head was resting on the surface and they were holding a whiskey in one hand and his other hand was just stretched out across, past their head.
"Sam?" Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder and the young man was stirred awake, groaning softly.
"What?" He lifted his head, and Arthur saw that his eyes were a bit unfocused and red from what he only assumed was crying and his face was flushed, albeit only slightly. He smelled of whiskey, too. "Oh. Hi, Arthur."
Arthur took the seat across from him and signalled the bar keeper to get him a drink. "What are you doing here? I thought you went back to camp."
"I did… and… Then Lily wanted me to visit the Downes and do my doctor stuff… You know…"
The barkeeper handed Arthur some whiskey and he gave him some money. "That place with the do-gooder?"
Sam glared, through his half-lidded eyes. "Mr. Downes is dead…" he mumbled, his words slurring a bit together, but they remained true. It stopped Arthur's attitude, at least, because he was kind of surprised, mouth open slightly agape. "And Lily's gonna stay with them a while…" His head lowered back down, focus landing on his drink. "So… what did you do?"
Arthur sighed. He opened his bottle of whiskey and took a drink. "Just making a fool out of myself."
"With what's her name?"
"Something like that… Wait. How do you know that?"
"I had to open the letters to find out who got what," Sam said, lifting his head. "Wait. What was her name again?"
Arthur shook his head. "Don't matter right now."
"Oh."
Arthur patted Sam's outstretched hand. "Sorry about Mr. Downes…"
Sam sniffled. "It's alright… He didn't… He seemed happy… at the end." He hiccuped on a small bubble of gas and then covered his mouth to stifle the noise of a burp. He lifted his drinking arm for a moment to wipe his runny nose. "He was very sick. That's why I didn't want you to hit him… back then. Just… didn't think they'd turn on me, even after." He sighed and tipped the half empty bottle of alcohol he had back and forth a little. "Why does love make us do stupid things? It just hurts."
Arthur shrugged. "I don't know… Was that what happened back there?"
"No, I went because Lily is in love with Archie, and I didn't wanna ruin it just because I was mad at him. Didn't want Mr. Downes to die, but… I was glad I was there, I guess."
"Alright. I suppose… I didn't do much better in being smart. I rode up a mountain and stopped Mary's brother from shooting himself just to make her happy."
"That's crazy…"
Arthur scoffed. "I know…"
Sam sat up. His head wobbled a little from dizziness. "See? Love is stupid."
"Can't… argue with you there."
Sam held out his drink. "To love being stupid?"
"Sure." And they smashed their drinks together and drank.
It would be hours into the night before a wagon pulled up to the saloon. The town was quiet, but usually Smithfield Saloon down the street was more lively than the one they were in.
Dutch opened the door into Keane's saloon, and the few people that rather enjoyed a quiet evening rather than the ruckus down the street were there. Although, Dutch heard two men who sounded like they were in a struggle.
Hosea wasn't far behind and they walked in to see Sam and Arthur fighting over a bottle of beer. They were struggling to stand, but managed to keep fighting against each other.
"Gimme that!" Arthur slurred. He was about as flushed as Sam now. "You're drunk!"
"No…" Sam slurred, as well. "You're drunk!"
Suddenly, the bottle slipped from their hands and shattered on the floor. The two men stared at the mess for a moment and lifted their gazes to look at each other before they just started laughing.
"Well, when you didn't show back up, we were getting worried," said Dutch. "Looks like we were right."
Sam gasped, he stood from his table and slowly hid behind Arthur like a scared child. "Oh… Sorry, Dutchy."
"Big boss man!" Arthur boomed from where he was.
Hosea sighed and shook his head. The gang leader threw some cash at the bar keeper. "Sorry about the mess," he said after he caught it.
"Well, least they ain't in jail this time," said Hosea. "Let's bring them home."
Sam jumped a little as they approached. "Uh… Are we in trouble?" he spoke softly.
Arthur shrugged, but stifled a laugh. "I don't think so…" Still, Sam backed up toward the bar when Hosea approached Arthur.
"Alright, son," he said. "Come on." He helped Arthur to his feet and guided him outside.
Sam spaced out for a moment. Then, after a blink, he tried to place money on the counter for another drink, but just as he was about to get it, Dutch swiped the bottle from him.
"Hey…" Sam said, before Dutch dragged the young man by his arm. "I'm thirsty…"
"I think you've drunk enough, mister," Dutch said, with a small chuckle.
"Give it baaaaaack…" Sam whined, as the gang leader dragged him outside. He grabbed onto his shirt, reaching out his hand, but Dutch kept the drink out of reach. "P-Please?"
Hosea had already guided Arthur to sit in the back of the cart, when he saw Dutch with Sam. He shook his head and helped out with Sam, as well.
"You can have some water back at camp, son," said Hosea. "Now come on, before you get yourself arrested."
Once both drunkards were settled, sitting next to each other, Dutch didn't want the whiskey to go to waste. So he hung out on the side of the cart and downed the bottle, enjoying the night and the peace that came with it. Once it was empty, he joined Hosea who was reading a book on the driver's seat.
"I swear, Hosea. This is the third time in town Arthur's-"
"Shh!" Hosea shushed.
"What?"
The old man gestured to the back and Dutch smiled, trying not to laugh at what he saw. Their boys were fast asleep. Sam was on his side, snuggled up to Arthur, with his head in the crook of his neck and one of his arms splayed across his chest. Arthur was laying on his back, head lowered, chin resting gently on his friend's head with one hand gently on the one Sam had on his chest and the other arm wrapped around him protectively. Arthur's hat had slid down slightly to cover his eyes, while Sam's just slid out of place and was kind of on the side of his head.
Dutch wished he had a camera to capture this moment. He didn't say another word. The gang leader hopped onto the carriage next to Hosea and they started their journey back to camp.