The Red Wolf ~ A Red Dead Redemption story

Chapter 55: The Grand Pacific train robbery

26th June 1894

The 2 days that followed after the deadly confrontation between Arthur and Robert were almost the worse days for them both. Arthur and Robert were both scolded for their actions towards each other and for nearly drawing on each other. In that time they never once spoke to each other. Robert had been going to Mary-Beth a lot with his therapy talks and Hosea took Arthur out on many hunting trips to get the grizzled outlaw to calm down. Arthur had also talked to Mary-Beth and thankfully things did seem to calm down and the atmosphere in camp had improved, though the tension was still apparent, some now believed the pair would never get along.

But with Hosea's wisdom he had hope that they might put their differences aside. Though it was a gamble to take. This was originally Dutch's idea back when Trelawny was with them. But with the can of worms opened, tensions returned between his best gunmen. Hosea had hoped that them both on the job with the hostilities present would change something with them.

Robert was outside the train station in Flagstaff in his red and black clothing. He stood with Davey and John as they waited for the others to arrive, it was midday and the train would be passing through in 2 hours time. Robert was cleaning his right Scholfield revolver as Davey offered cigarettes to the others still leaning on the station wall.

"So, this train is heading to California? Why's it needed to head so westward?" Davey asked as he puffed smoke out.

"It's a business train Davey, it heads towards Los Angeles and then it's cargo goes to Australia. So it's bound to carry money or jewels or rail bonds. But it's gonna be heavily guarded. Fortunately we don't have innocent civilians to deal with so. There's that as well." Robert explained as he let the nicotine heighten his senses.

"And it's good to take right? There's no stopping on the schedule." John said as he looked at the train ledger on the wall.

"I'll review the plan again once everyone shows up Marston." Robert replied, holstering his Scholfield.

John had been acting rather strange towards Robert ever since the confrontation between him and Arthur, he talked a little more to him and in a bit of a pleasant tone. It had been months since their fight in camp but only recently had they had some good talks in camp. It was a surprise to be sure but a welcomed one, though it still weirded out the Red Wolf.

"You know, that thing with going into Arthur's journal. That was low, even by your standards." John pointed out as he looked at him.

Robert just sighed, he had already received a number of scolding's from Hosea and some of the girls. "I don't need to hear it again Marston, I wouldn't have done that had he treated me with proper respect. Eye for an eye as one would put it."

But curiously, John smirked as if he remembered a funny memory regarding Arthur's journal. "...Sure....I guess it was kind of funny though, seeing Arthur all freaked out over it."

Robert frowned. "Hosea has already hounded me to the grave over the actions I did. But I have no regrets."

"What about growing your slug moustache back?" Davey cut in snickering.

The English just scoffed as he stroked the small hairs growing back. "No, but at least I had a bath this morning. You smell like you swam in a toilet hole."

Davey hadn't had a bath in a long while and the smell was apparent. He hadn't even listened to Miss Grimshaw' s warnings when he ended up getting slapped repeatedly. This all came after he had spent considerable time in the saloons drinking himself booze blind and no care for his hygiene.

"Hey! Not everyone can afford a bath English bastard." Davey retorted.

"Especially when one is spending it on beers and whores." John roasted and Robert chuckled a bit at that as well. Agitating Davey as he just groaned, it was even more unbearable in the summer heat under the sun.