𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗜 ➳ 𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔.

Before they left for their journey to Van Horn Mansion, Eleanor and Arthur enjoyed a warm meal together. Despite receiving looks from the high society people of Saint Denis, it was nice to be able to eat something that wasn't Pearson's stew. 

"You ready for today?" Arthur had asked her. Eleanor nodded as she shoved the cut piece of prime rib into her mouth with a fork. Eleanor couldn't even remember the last time she had used a knife and fork, a knife that wasn't her hunting knife. 

"Of course."

"No, I mean are you ready?" Arthur repeated. Eleanor looked at him, slowly dropping her hand from her mouth in realisation. He didn't want her to lose her head again. Honestly, she didn't know. Arthur noticed her hesitation. "It's okay. Remember you got me." Eleanor felt herself smile at Arthur after he said that, his words meaning something to her. 

"Eleanor."

Eleanor quickly blinked out of her thoughts, looking over at Arthur who rode beside her. He was looking at her, a hint of worry in his eyes. 

"You alright?" He asked. Eleanor nodded reassuringly. She looked around them to see they had ridden through the swamps and towards the wooded area of New Hanover. Just a little further and they would soon be at Van Horn Mansion, an old abandoned mansion that use to be a home a very long time ago. Now squatters often stayed their, but from time to time outlaws in hiding would hide there. It was an ideal place with two stories, plenty of space to fit a small gang or group of people. Perfect for a base for Mary's hired guns. 

"What were you saying?" Eleanor asked Arthur, hating to ask him to repeat. 

"I was thinking we flush them out of the door downstairs," Arthur repeated, not seeming annoyed, or at least so she thought. "Put a stick of dynamite on the front door, blow it up. They'll scurry out like rats and then we pick them off as they come out."

"You sure do love blowing shit up, huh?" Eleanor joked causing Arthur to chuckle beside her. 

"Only when I need to," Arthur grinned. "So, you like the idea?"

"It could work," Eleanor nodded at him.

"It will work," Arthur corrected her with confidence. "You'll set the dynamite while I wait by the door down stairs. I'll hide and once you set the dynamite off you come down and help me pick them off," He explained. 

"Should I shoot the stick or light it?" Eleanor asked, quickly looking ahead to see the Mansion was coming into view before looking back at Arthur again. 

"It's up to you, either way they'll be running," Arthur shrugged. "Having them coming from one direction is a lot easier then multiple."

"Sure is," Eleanor nodded in agreement. "Anyway, if it somehow fails we'll manage. We always do," she smiled. Arthur tried to hide the smile on his face as he nodded in agreement. "We should put our horses across the road just so the blast doesn't get to them. I'll usher their horses away so if some do try and run their horses won't be there," Eleanor explained. 

"Sounds good," Arthur agreed. The two soon arrived at the old mansion, dismounting their horses across the road. Eleanor threw the reins over a low hanging branch before petting Seyfret's neck. She looked over at the mansion, how it was still standing she had no clue. It looked ready to give out any day now. 

"Here," Arthur handed a stick of dynamite to her. Eleanor took it from him, looking the stick over. It was in good condition, no damage had been done so it shouldn't go off accidently. "I'll go find a spot in the trees, you get those horses out of there," Arthur instructed. Eleanor nodded at him. "Good luck," he said softly before taking her hand and squeezing it in his own. Arthur let her go before running towards the Mansion. Eleanor quickly grabbed her lancaster repeater from her saddle holster and swung it over her shoulder before heading towards the Mansion herself.