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Chapter 40

Being a man of such intelligence, Dutch would, of course, notice that half of the gang was missing.

Normally, it would have not disturbed Hosea either. After all, he'd trusted Arthur to keep them all safe, but it happened far too fast and there hadn't been any plans for so many men to be sent out. For them to be gone all night, it made Hosea's older heart fray with worry.

Hosea slung around throughout the night, knowing that he was acting like a worried wife as he continued ransacking the camp. There was no plan, as far as he was aware, to do anything.

He remembered Dutch grumpily telling him that they were lying low due to Arthur's convincing. The doubt in Dutch's leadership was far from pleasing for Hosea, but at least, things were proceeding at an alright pace.

Eventually, Hosea collapsed onto the cot within their tent and went to sleep, though it was anything but peaceful. When he woke up nearly five hours later, he scowled in irritation. There would be hell to pay when Arthur and John got back. He didn't like it when any of them ran off without telling anyone.

Sure, they were children no more, but it didn't make it right.

"Javier," Hosea said, hands on his hips, conveying just how frustrated he was with this situation, "do you happen to know where Mr. Williamson went throughout the night?" He was the last one seen and tried to interrupt him and Dutch when they were in a moment...

Little Sean's disappearance was concerning.

"No, boss," Javier answered, "the last time I saw him was yesterday."

Hosea sighed and nodded. "Of course. Thank you, son."

Javier nodded and moved over to the nearby seat, taking the meal that Pearson had left behind.

Hosea moved around, making mental notes in his head to track down who was missing. Aside from Bill, there were also Charles, Lenny, Sean, John, and Arthur.

What could his sons need with such a big committee? Hosea would never know. Hopefully, they wouldn't get themselves into too much trouble.

"Hosea," Dutch said, gripping his shoulders and turning him around, "did you find where our sons may have ended up?"

"No," Hosea shook his head, feeling the fear clawing within his chest, "I'm getting nervous, Dutch."

"Ain't no time to be nervous, Hosea," Dutch dismissed, trying to maintain the strong demeanor he always did, "we have already decided that Arthur and John are going to have some explaining to do when they get back here." His eyes flickered with sincerity and anger, almost parental.

It reminded Hosea of that one time when John went out late with Tilly and the two got into mischief all over town. Suffice to say, Dutch wasn't pleased, and he let both of them know it by sleeping on their stomachs, making sure such a display never happened again.

The thought of Dutch enforcing discipline for them all was something that actually amused Hosea. He'd doubted such threats would work with someone like Charles, but even after all that had happened, Arthur and John still listened to him as if he were their father.

Well, that had happened once...

"This ain't like them to leave without notice. What if the law caught up to them, Dutch?!" Hosea asked, beginning to pace around. "What if they're arrested and about to hang?"

"Hosea!"

"I knew Blackwater was a bad idea, and you should have listened to me before you went with Micah! Goddamn it, if those boys are hurt-"

"Enough, Hosea," Dutch interrupted. "What happened in Blackwater happened. There's no pretending it never happened. We'll have to trust that they're alright."

"Bu-"

"Hosea," Dutch placed a hand over his lips, smothering him. Hosea's eyes trembled for a nanosecond, even as he held him, tightly pressing his mouth closed. His echoing heart started to slow again. Then, once his shoulders came back down and relented, he released him.

"Sorry," Hosea smiled slightly. Dutch glanced at him sideways for a second. "But I do hope you're right. Things have been growing tense of late." Worry settled in again as he faced the real possibility. "Ma-"

"They better not," Dutch's voice darkened considerably. "No one is allowed to leave like that without my approval, and doing so without permission."

Hosea paused, noticing the way Dutch's eyes shadowed. It seemed like he was consumed by a physical entity, devoid of his basic human traits and becoming someone from Hosea's darkest and deepest nightmares.

"I was joking, Dutch."

Dutch's eyes followed him for a moment before nodding once. "Of course," a slight chuckle emanated from him. "I forget that your jokes are getting weaker with age."

"Oh, I'll show you weak!" Hosea swung back his right hook.

"Dutch, Hosea," Karen dashed up, repeater in hands, "sorry," she actually looked sheepish than usual, "but I think... I saw some folks moving near camp."

"Thank you, Ms. Jones," Hosea said, placing a hand on her shoulder and moving out along with Dutch.

Most noticeably, the man beside him fell silent, his teeth gritted together.

Guns clicked.

Since that attack many weeks ago, all of them knew that there was no certainty in safety. Although the worry diminished, they didn't want to risk dying.

Hosea reached for his revolver, wondering who would come this far out here at this time. The worst possible thoughts came to mind. Perhaps they lined up with the disappearance of the folks currently gone. Maybe it was... O'Driscolls coming here to attack when they were...

Aiming, Hosea waited, along with Karen, Dutch, Grimshaw, and a few others.

The trepidation died when the six silhouettes revealed themselves to be Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Sean MacGuire, Charles Smith, Lenny Summers, and Kieran Duffy. But there was one other. Kieran was hanging onto a rope of Bill's horse, Brown Jack, with no sign of the owner...

The gang quickly assembled when they saw their gunslingers and enforcers for Dutch returning.

"Arthur," Sadie called out when Arthur finally stopped, the entire group doing likewise.

Guns were holstered instantly.

"John Marston!" Abigail shouted, her agitation rivaling his. "How dare you leave me like that?!"

"Not now, ladies," John said in a tone of voice hardly heard before.

The woman paused. Hosea felt a slight shiver fill him. The stresses of the world strained his voice, and the knotting feeling inside Arthur flooded through him.

"Arthur Morgan! John Marston!" Dutch's voice broke through the air, not taking note of their expressions. "How dare you all leave without informing us?! I should have left you both in Colter! You gave us all quite a sca-"

"There was no need to care 'bout us, Dutch," Arthur said sharply as the man emerged from the shadows to come out into the opening, his face the opposite of the composed one he normally inhabited.

"I'm glad you're all safe, but where's Mr. Williamson?" Hosea inquired, managing to keep his own rage buried within his chest.

"We're just getting to that, Hosea," John replied tightly. "Some things have been happening in the past few days. That involve Micah. Not like that's nothing else."

"Ah, so there's the lost crew," speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Micah Bell revealed himself, his form taunting.

What happened next shocked everyone.

"You..." Lenny Summers stated, aiming his Springfield Rifle at Micah.

Instinctively, several members of the gang, including Hosea and Dutch, lowered their hands to their weapons. Cleet and Joe predictably raised their weapons at the young man, just as Micah's expression broke in surprise.

"Woah, woah, you ain't a slave no more, dark meat!" Micah shouted, shrinking away from the dark-skinned man. "That ain't necessary!"

"You know damn well what you did, Micah," Charles hissed. "You should have never been allowed in the gang. You've been nothing but trouble for so long."

"Arthur?" Dutch asked slowly. "Arthur, what's going on?"

Everyone looked at the form of the man who remained quiet.

Arthur moved forward, keeping an eye on Micah.

When he finally spoke, his voice grabbed their attention. The seven words that exited his mouth were determined and authoritative.

"We need to have a little chat..."

"What is the meaning of this?" Dutch's cheek throbbed with anger.

Hosea shared the settlement, even though he kept quiet and without much emotion.

Oh, he didn't know the following shell that was to come.

"Bill's dead, Dutch," John announced.

The proclamation sent a shiver through the gang.

"Dead? Why?" Dutch gasped. "What happened?"

"He tried to kill Arthur. Sean killed him." Charles answered.

Everyone looked at the Irish, his fists clenched at his side, anxiety and angst flaring off of him. For all the times Hosea talked, scolded, and told off the Irishman, he never saw him like this. The young man who was typically the jokester of the gang was now seemingly in fright, unsure what to do, lost...

"You rats," Arthur glared at Micah and the approaching Cleet and Joe in particular, "all of you."

"Why would Bill try to kill Arthur?" Karen asked.

"Ask Micah," Lenny motioned to the man in question, not taking his eyes off of him even for a second. "After all... it was his idea that got Jenny killed."

"Oh, would you ever get off of that, kid?!" Micah exclaimed.

"Micah... Micah, what did you do?" Hosea demanded, feeling the situation escalating far too quickly. This wasn't good...

"Oh come on, isn't this obvious?!" Micah shouted. "They've all lost their minds!" He beckoned to the leader of this rebellious group. "Knowing Morgan, he probably manipulated the Irish boy to kill the fat man! I had nothing to do with it!"

"Lies!" Lenny growled, tightening his hands around his weapon, "You have been using us since you've came here! Tell the truth or I'll shoot!"

Micah looked desperately at the gang's leader, "Dutch, tell them. I have been faithful since the start."

Dutch nodded slightly in agreement, even though he remained tight-lipped.

"Dutch," Charles said slowly, "Micah has always been nothing but trouble. Since that botched robbery in Blackwater to everything that has been transpiring in the past few months, it's not Arthur, John, or even Colm. It's always been Micah Bell. He's a type of scum who will sell us out to anyone who benefits him."

Dutch swung his head back and forth, obviously conflicted.

"No, that can't be true," Dutch's fists tightened. "Micah is my son, just like all of you, Charles. He will not stab us in the back. You're all misunderstanding him."

"Yeah, listen to the leader!" Micah chuckled slightly, bringing himself closer despite the gun and numerous hateful glares trained on him. "You cannot kill me. There's no proof."

"There's enough. You have a picture of Dutch and Hosea's bounties in Blackwater. The game's over, Micah, time to go and explore getting swing, if you don't break the rope in the process." John growled.

"You ain't the leader, Marston. Maybe the rat is you. After all, you've left the gang for a year." Micah looked at Dutch, his eyes considerate. "Dutch, are you really going to trust the men who always be asking questions? Come on. You need loyalty! I need it! Loyalty!"

Dutch's eyes landed on his momentarily, his face straining. It was obvious that the man was torn, and when he was, he didn't make the best decisions. Hosea knew that more than anyone.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "We were idiots. It made sense from the beginning."

"No, it damn well hasn't."

Arthur snapped out his weapon which Micah retaliate with both of his weapons, aiming at Arthur and Lenny.

"I should have killed you months ago," Arthur growled.

Lenny kept his eye trained on Micah, but appealed to both Dutch and Hosea. The kid could have pulled a trigger, but he didn't want a possible gunfight. That occurred to him. "Dutch, Hosea, think."

"Dutch, Hosea..." Micah said. "Be practical now. I gave you both followers. We lost some of our best in Blackwater. Cleet and Joe are by your side cause of me. None of us are questioning you because we're trying to get out!"

This was getting out of control. Hosea commanded, "Put your guns away."

John didn't move, his hand wrapped around his revolver. "We can't do that, Hosea."

Damn, this was lining up to be a tragedy greater than Lincoln's assassination.

"And why not?" Hosea demanded.

"We ain't riding nowhere with the likes of him no more," Arthur declared. "The rest of you, pick your side now, cause this is over." He looked at both Hosea and Dutch. "All them years for this snake."

"Oh, be quiet, cowpoke," Micah spat at Arthur. "You live in the clouds." He looked at both before his gaze settled on Dutch. "What was I telling you, Dutch? He's gone mad and now he wants to rip your gang apart! It's time to cut him loose!"

"I'm sure that's not the case!" Hosea exclaimed, his own frustration catching up to him.

But his words fell on deaf ears. Despite his power in the gang, he was truly powerless in this situation.

"This is a clear and cut case, Dutch!" John shouted. "Micah has been a rat from day one I tell ya! You're trusting someone you've known for 6 months over me and Arthur?! We have always been at your side for all them goddamn years, but we cannot work with him!" He indicated to Micah. "What would Annabelle think of you right now?!"

Wrong words. Dutch's vein in his jaw throbbed painfully, showing that statement landed a low one.

His voice booming, he delivered his statement... at John.

"All of you are betraying the gang with these actions, John. You'll no longer be a member of the gang if you don't put your guns down." Dutch spoke, his anger manifesting in his tone.

"If saving all of us from being swung is betrayal against the gang, then that's a risk I am more than willing to take, Dutch," John replied, receiving mumbles of agreement from those behind him... and even others who were standing. Oh no, this was going to turn ugly fast. "Look at you! Micah's behind it all. He wants us to become crazy and abandon our values. But I won't let him. We won't let him."

"You'd rather be deemed a traitor?" Dutch asked, the threat still present.

"Rather stay loyal to my family than follow a rat who only tells you what you want to hear, Dutch," Lenny spoke sadly this time, but passionately.

"You both are rats..." Dutch growled. "And here I thought you were smart, young Lenny."

"From where I'm standing, the only traitor here is you, Dutch," Charles replied, resolute.

"Hosea," Arthur looked at him, his face pleading. "Hosea… please, please, don't follow him. We all love Dutch, but we cannot stand with Micah. You don't have to be a part of this. You know it's wrong. Come with us!"

"He's right, Hosea," John joined in next, the previous hostility in his voice diminishing considerably as he addressed their other father figure. "We don't want to harm you, either of you. But you both know this is wrong. We know that times are rough, but he's not going to fix anything. Turn back now, before it's too late."

Dutch eyed him coldly. "There's nothing to turn back from, Mr. Marston. We must remain loyal to one another. I'm afraid Mr. Bell's accusation may have been correct."

"Then you are lost to us, Dutch." Arthur replied solemnly before he focused again on Hosea. "Hosea… please!"

Hosea opened his mouth, unsure of what to do. He wanted to help Arthur and John, but leaving behind his partner...

He didn't have long to think.

Agitated beyond belief, Dutch snapped up his revolvers, pointing at both sides as he assumed his positions. "Who amongst you is with me," he stared back and forth between Arthur and Micah before turning his aim on Arthur, "and who is betraying me?"

Hosea noticed that those who followed Arthur shuffled closer to him. Lenny and John aimed their guns at Micah. Sean's revolver was directed in the air. Karen walked to Sean's side and aimed her weapon at Micah as well. Sean remained at her side, looking terrified but less so now. Pearson and Swanson also hesitated but joined Arthur. When Sadie, Uncle, Mary-Beth, also moved to Arthur's side, those armed turning their aim to Micah, Dutch lost control:

"What the hell is wrong with all of you? You're going to be okay!" He ground his teeth together, incensed at their quietness and insubordination, which he perceived as a lack of loyalty. "Trust me!... Please!"

Yet, Dutch wasn't without his own loyal followers. Javier and Tilly moved behind him. Teeth clenched, Tilly's hands were wrapped around her repeater, almost as if using the weapon to reassure herself. Javier looked even more frantic and lost but determined. Grimshaw hesitated but also joined Dutch, aiming her weapon at the ground. Molly seemed out of place, for she was unarmed, but she stood alongside Dutch. Micah, Joe, and Cleet also drew closer to Dutch, keeping their weapons lined up on their targets.

The gang was broken apart...

Arthur and Dutch had their weapons aimed at one another; as did John, Lenny, and Micah, Charles and Cleet, and Kieran and Joe.

"Tilly, Grimshaw, Molly, Javier, think, think for yourselves," Arthur said, a pained expression on his face.

"He's lying," Micah said. "He's ly-ing."

Abigail grabbed Jack's hand and made her way to Arthur's side, with Cain following loyally. Although Javier slowly lowered his weapon on Charles, Sean and Tilly kept theirs in the air.

"You all know the rules!" Grimshaw shouted, clearly pained. "We have to stay by-"

"We cannot do that anymore, Ms. Grimshaw," Arthur said quietly.

And now, Hosea recognized he was in the middle. This was all just... too much. He didn't think it would have come to this! But he had to stop it! He had to stop them all quickly before they did something stupid that they would regret!

At the center of the makeshift arena, Hosea aimed at the air and fired.

Author's note: I have always got the vibe Sean would have aimed in the air like Javier no matter who he sided with. He wouldn't have the heart to pull the trigger. I'm aware that there are a lot of people on Arthur's side but realistically many didn't like Micah, and those who are staying for now are staying because of DUTCH. Make no mistake, if Dutch had sided with Arthur, Micah, Cleet, and Joe would have been screwed. Micah was a little desperate in this chapter.

The reason why most sided with Arthur is because by far Arthur was the one who called out Dutch countless times, and his approach is more pragmatic and realistic to the constant shooting and getting into trouble. For a man who'd been at Dutch's side for twenty years to suddenly start calling him out, it made sense for most to see Arthur's reasoning. I'm surprised more didn't point out that little detail in the vanilla game.