Bounty Collected

Morning

The next morning, Arthur woke before Anna. He lied still next to her studying her face, hair, and neck. He was convinced that he had never laid eyes on someone so beautiful. He was a little nervous about Dutch's plans for her. He didn't know much about her but he did know that it would be a waste to kill such a beautiful creature. He could hear commotion growing in the camp outside.
"Oh son-of-a-bitch! She's fuckin' gone!" He heard Micah yell. She startled at all the noise. Her big blue eyes darted at Arthur and around the tent. She instinctively began to struggle to get out of her wrist ties.
"Anna. Stop." He said quietly while resting his hand on her arm. "I'll go tell them you're here."
"No! Arthur, please!" Anna urged quietly using her leg to block him from climbing out of the cot. He gently pushed her leg down. "Arthur, no! Please let me go." She pleaded quietly. He stopped as he was crossing over her and looked down at her.
"I have to." He said reassuringly. She watched him leave the tent, frightened of what's to come. She was trying to untie herself, as well as listen to the conversation outside the tent. She couldn't hear Arthur but she heard Dutch say, "Well bring her out here. We gotta deal with this now." After a moment, Arthur appeared in the tent. He wouldn't look at her. She knew what they had in store for her.
"Arthur, no." she said quietly as if she were trying to compose herself. He began untying her with guilt written all over his face.
"I'm sorry. Truly, I am." He said sympathetically, still unable to make eye contact with her. He sat her up and sat next to her on the cot still holding her wrist rope. He looked down at her wrists where the rope had rubbed raw. He softly brushed his thumb over the sore spots, worked up the nerve to say, "Anna, I have to take you to them. Now, come on." She inhaled deeply and stood up with him.

They walked out to a crowd of camp members waiting on them.
"Bring the young lady here, Arthur." Dutch instructed. Arthur tugged on the rope to lead her forward. She walked with him with looking ahead at Dutch and Micah waiting for her. When she got to them, Arthur stepped away and Micah grabbed her shoulders and dropped her to her knees. Dutch pulled his pistol from its holster, pulled the hammer back, and aimed it at her.
"I'm sorry, my child. You just chose the wrong line of work." He said softly.
"Wait." She said flatly. He gave a surprised look.
"Yes?" He questioned.
"I don't want to die." She said with a shrug. Her voice cracking trying to hold back a cry. "I have money. Can I buy my way out of this?" This surprised everyone in the camp. Dutch most of all.
"We can't just let you go. You know our location. It's too big a risk." He said.
"It's just a job to me. It isn't worth my life. Can I buy my way into the gang?" She asked quickly. Dutch looked at her curiously. "Hosea, Arthur. Come here." He said walking a couple of feet back from her. They talk amongst themselves before returning to her a moment later.
"How much money can you offer to join up?" He asked with his arms crossed.
"I can give you $1000." She said confidently. Dutch's eyes widened.
"You lie." He said.
"I'm not lying. I can have it for you tomorrow. It's at a bank in Saint Denis."
"Ok, I guess we can hold off on this 'til tomorrow." Dutch said offering his hand to shake. She shakes his hand and stands up.
"Tomorrow." She agrees with a wave of relief washing over her.
"Now, Miss Grimshaw, find this young lady something decent to wear." He says shooting Micah a knowing look. "Until things get settled, you will stay will Arthur." Dutch then gestured for Anna to follow Miss Grimshaw.
"Come on, honey. I'm sure we can find you something." Anna followed her to another tent.
"What's your name?" Miss Grimshaw asked
"Anna." She revealed shyly.
"Well, Anna, welcome to the gang. I run this gang and you will take your orders from me." She said handing her a long skirt to wear with her button down shirt.
"Ok, thank you."

Then, Miss Grimshaw introduced her to Karen, Tilly, Abigail, Molly, and Sadie. They were all pleasant with her.
"Where are you from?" Asked Tilly.
"New York, actually." Anna answered.
"New York?! You're a long way from home. What brought you down here?" Asked Karen.
"Just looking for a change of scenery." Anna answered, avoiding telling them about her family's immense wealth.