Loyalty Divided

Chapter Tweleve

The next morning, the camp was abuzz with a sense of cautious optimism. Evangeline was stable, and the gang members were already discussing their next moves. Dutch approached Arthur as he was tending to Boadicea.

"Arthur," Dutch said, his voice carrying a note of authority. "I need you to go into town today. We've got some jewelry and other valuables that need to be sold for cash. We could use the money to keep us going for a while."

Arthur nodded, understanding the importance of the task. "Sure thing, Dutch. I'll head out right away."

Dutch handed him a small satchel filled with various trinkets and jewelry. "And Arthur," Dutch added, "remember to spread a little kindness while you're out there. We've got a bit of extra money now. Let's do some good."

Arthur nodded again, slinging the satchel over his shoulder and mounting Boadicea. "Will do, Dutch."

As Arthur rode out of camp, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. The morning air was chilly, a reminder that September was here and the colder months were approaching. The rhythmic clopping of Boadicea's hooves on the dirt road seemed to match the cadence of his thoughts. His mind replayed the events of the past few days-the heist, the gunfight, Evangeline's injury. He felt a pang of guilt mixed with a fierce determination. She had been caught in the crossfire, and now, it was on him to help ensure she got the care she needed.

Arthur thought back to his conversation with Dutch the previous night. Dutch's plan to distribute some of the spoils to those in need was a good one. It reminded Arthur of simpler times when he believed in Dutch's vision wholeheartedly. Lately, though, doubts had crept in. But today, he could focus on something positive, something good. The idea brought a small measure of peace to his troubled mind.

As he rode on, Arthur's thoughts drifted to Evangeline. There was something about her that stirred a protective instinct in him, something that made him want to shield her from the harshness of their world. The way she looked at him, even through her pain, had touched him deeply. He couldn't ignore the connection they shared, despite the chaos around them. But he also knew that getting too close was dangerous-for both of them. They each had their own roles to play in the gang, and personal feelings could complicate things.

Then his thoughts shifted to Mary. Her letter had reopened old wounds, ones he had tried to bury deep. He remembered the warmth of her smile, the way she looked at him with a mixture of hope and sadness. Mary was a part of his past, a reminder of what could have been if life had dealt them a different hand. But her letter had made it clear: her family didn't want her to speak to him anymore because of his lifestyle. The pain of that rejection stung, but he knew she was right. Their worlds were too different now. The memory of her love still lingered, a bittersweet ache in his heart.

Arthur sighed, the weight of his thoughts heavy on his shoulders. Evangeline and Mary represented different parts of his life-one, a painful reminder of a lost future, and the other, a complicated present fraught with danger and unspoken emotions. He couldn't change the past, and he couldn't afford to lose himself in regret. All he could do was keep moving forward, do what he could to help those around him, and try to find some semblance of redemption in the choices he made each day.

With Boadicea's steady gait beneath him and the road stretching out ahead, Arthur resolved to make the most of the day, to find some good in the world and maybe, just maybe, find a way to mend the cracks in his own soul.

By the time Arthur reached the outskirts of town, his resolve had hardened into a steely determination. He made his way to the general store first, selling the jewelry and valuables for a decent sum of cash. The storekeeper, a portly man with a bushy mustache, counted out the bills and handed them to Arthur with a nod.