Honors And Redemptions Of The Outlaw

Chapter 19: A Little Better,

2 Weeks later

*Elizabeth*

Small clouds of dust followed Patricia and Junior's hooves up the familiar dusty trail to the camp, making their way up the trail a familiar voice called out to Elizabeth and Amber.

"Hold up there- Wait- Amber, Elizabeth?" The young slim figure that belonged to Archie stood with a repeater in his arms pointed at the ground with a furrowed brow at the state Elizabeth and Amber had been in. A fresh graze from a bullet laid at Amber's side while Elizabeth had a dusty face and tear-stained cheeks, from what he couldn't exactly figure out. "What the hell happened to you two?" Amber shifted in her saddle from the discomfort that came from a day's worth of riding. Amber looked back at Elizabeth seeing tears start to brim her eyes before looking back to Archie with a sigh. "Just bad fortune." Her thick accent was filled with sorrow from what had happened at Fort Cassidy.

Archie noticed the tears that ran down Elizabeth's face at the comment, scolding himself for asking. "I- oh, I won't push for further answers. I doubt Thomas will be as kind though." Elizabeth smiled, relieved that the young man had seen the situation for what it was. Amber nodded to Archie with a half-hearted smile. "Thanks, kid." Archie nodded his goodbye to them as they continued up the dirt trail to camp.

Elizabeth blinked at the realization a couple of tears ran down her cheeks, wiping them away. She looked up at the ceiling of her tent held together by some ropes and a tree branch, standing from her cot she smoothed the ends of her pale dress before she peered out to see the sun had begun to rise behind the thick line of trees at the edge of the cliff. Elizabeth stepped out of her small tent noticing only Thomas, Shea, Jameson, Henry, Archie, and Amber were awake gathered by the table in the middle of camp. Elizabeth walked over, able to make out Thomas's words as she got closer.

"Joseph got word of this coach leaving the town and heading towards Bayfield. You will need to make sure it doesn't get there, or anywhere close to it before you get the money." Joseph. Elizabeth scowled at the name. He joined a year or two after she and Amber had joined the gang with Archie, starved and whatnot Joseph just always gave Elizabeth an odd feeling. Like he was always never truly loyal to them, as to why she never really knew.

He made Amber happy, so she should be happy for her, right? Elizabeth never voiced her opinion about him openly to anyone before until they delivered that wagon when Amber said she was done with Joseph after his actions and sudden change in demeanor. Joseph wasn't one for camp much either, if he wasn't doing something for Thomas in camp he was out doing his bidding or on his own doing god knows what. Elizabeth's lips curved into a small frown at the thought of them taking this suggestion from Joseph, Elizabeth felt as if this was a possible false lead.

Jameson noticed her frown, looking at her with a curious gaze. Amber noticed his stare trailing towards Elizabeth. She smiled at Elizabeth gesturing her to join them. Shea's eyes quickly shot up at Elizabeth, raising a brow. Elizabeth smiled gently slowly making her way over to them. "Good morning. I- Are you going on the coach robbery?" Elizabeth said. Thomas looked up at her for a moment before returning his gaze to the others from his chair.

"Yes, and I was wondering if you'd like to attend this by any chance?" Elizabeth blinked at the question, looking down at her dress. She'd have to change if she wanted to go, but then she thought back on the last time she did something similar to that. Elizabeth looked at Thomas for a moment thinking when someone spoke up. "I- uh, I don't know Thomas. With what happened at Fort Cassidy two weeks ago and all."

Jameson said gently as to try and convince him to not put any more stress than what laid on Elizabeth already. Elizabeth smiled at him. Jameson had heard her crying outside her tent a few times, coming to make sure she was alright. It was very sweet and thoughtful that he'd spoken up for her. Thomas's eyes flickered between the two of them for a moment before he sighed.