Loyalty Divided

Chapter Thirteen

Evangeline sat by the campfire with Copper resting on her lap, the warmth of the flames contrasting with the cool autumn breeze that rustled through the trees. It had been about a month since that fateful night on the train, and her body had finally healed almost to completion. She stretched, feeling the stiffness in her muscles ease, and allowed herself a small smile. The gang was in high spirits tonight, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a sense of camaraderie and relief.

Arthur sat across from her, strumming the guitar he had bought in town. His fingers moved deftly over the strings, coaxing out a melody that was both soothing and uplifting. Evangeline watched him, noting the way his face softened when he played, the usual lines of worry and tension easing as he lost himself in the music.

Dutch leaned back in his chair, a rare, genuine smile on his face. "Arthur, you sure know how to set the mood," he called out, raising his cup in a toast.

Arthur nodded, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. "Just trying to keep things lively, Dutch."

Hosea chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got more talents than just shootin', Arthur."

Evangeline's gaze shifted to the rest of the gang. Colten sat nearby, his eyes occasionally flicking to her, a hint of worry still lingering despite the jovial atmosphere. She gave him a reassuring smile, grateful for his concern and constant support during her recovery.

John sat next to Arthur, occasionally tapping his foot to the rhythm of the guitar. Miss Grimshaw was busy preparing some food, her movements quick and efficient, but she took a moment to listen, a rare smile playing on her lips. The small group felt close-knit, like a family bound by more than just necessity.

Evangeline felt a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in a long time. The gang, despite their flaws and the constant danger that surrounded them, had become her family. She glanced at Arthur again, their eyes meeting briefly before he looked away, focusing back on the guitar. A small pang of something she couldn't quite identify stirred in her chest, but she pushed it aside, content to simply be in this moment of peace.

As the night wore on, the songs grew louder and the stories more exaggerated. Evangeline found herself laughing along with the others, the sound of her own laughter almost foreign after the weeks of pain and recovery. She leaned back, letting the warmth of the fire and the music wash over her.

Arthur began a new song, this one slower and more reflective. He cleared his throat and started singing, his voice carrying a bittersweet melody into the night air:

"Far across the blue waters

Lives an old German's daughter

By the banks of the old river Rhine

Where I loved her and left her

But I can't forget her

I miss my pretty Fräulein

Fräulein, Fräulein

Look up toward the heavens

Each night, when the stars start to shine

By the same stars above you

I swear that I love you

You are my pretty Fräulein"

Arthur's gaze met Evangeline's, and she tore her eyes away from him, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. She couldn't deny the connection she felt, but her heart was a tangled mess of confusion and unspoken feelings.

As the song played on, Evangeline noticed Hosea quietly rise from his seat and walk away from the group, the weight of his emotions evident in his stooped shoulders. His departure left a poignant silence in the air, a reminder of the losses each of them carried.