Loyalty Divided

Chapter Twenty Three

The day had arrived for the bank robbery. Arthur, Dutch, and Hosea gathered their things in the dim morning light. The abandoned house they had taken refuge in was eerily silent, the rest of the gang still asleep. As they prepared to leave, Arthur lingered in the doorway of his and Evangeline's now shared bedroom. She laid in the bed, staring at the ceiling lost in thought. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a simple low ponytail that cascaded over her shoulder.

Arthur stepped inside quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "Morning," he said softly.

Evangeline turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with worry. "Morning. Is it time already?"

Arthur nodded, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Yeah. We need to get moving before the sun's fully up."

Evangeline sat up, her hand tightening around his. "Arthur, I have a bad feeling about this. I can't shake it."

Arthur sighed, his gaze steady on hers. "I know you're worried. I am too. But we need this money. Dutch is convinced this job will set us up for a while, give us a chance to move somewhere safer."

Evangeline shook her head. "But at what cost, Arthur? I don't care about the money or the new place. I care about you. I don't want to lose you."

Arthur's heart ached at the fear in her voice. He pulled her into a tight embrace, resting his chin on her head. "I'll be careful, Evangeline. I promise. I've got Hosea and Dutch with me. We'll be in and out before anyone knows what's happened."

She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "I wish I could go with you. Help in some way."

Arthur kissed the top of her head. "It's too dangerous. Bringing you along would only put you at risk."

Evangeline pulled back, looking up at him with tears in her eyes. "I hate feeling so helpless, Arthur. Like I can't do anything but wait and hope."

Arthur cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "You're not helpless, Evangeline. You're strong. Stronger than you know. Just hold on for me, alright? I need you to stay safe. For me."

Evangeline nodded, swallowing hard. "I'll try, Arthur. I'll try."

They sat in silence for a moment, savoring the closeness. Finally, Arthur pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "I need to go. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can come back to you."

Evangeline nodded, her heart aching as she watched him stand. "Be careful, Arthur. Please."

He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I will. I'll be back before you know it."

With one last, lingering kiss, Arthur turned and made his way to the door. He paused, looking back at her, memorizing her face as if it might be the last time he'd see it. He then and walked out the door, the weight of his promise heavy on his shoulders. As he joined Dutch and Hosea outside, he cast one last glance at the house. Copper trailed at his feet to which Arthur bent down and patted the dogs head. Copper gave his hand a reassuring lick and retreated back to the house.

The trio mounted their horses and began their ride westward. The early morning light cast long shadows across the snowy landscape, the air crisp and biting. They rode in silence for a while, the only sounds the crunch of hooves on snow and the occasional snort from their horses.

Arthur's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He couldn't shake the nagging doubt about Dutch's plan. As they rode deeper into the forest, the trees closing in around them, Arthur finally broke the silence. "Dutch, what exactly is the plan here? We need to be clear on every step."