Loyalty Divided

Chapter Twenty Four

A few days had passed since the robbery, and the atmosphere around the camp remained tense. The gang was still riding high on their recent success, but the euphoria of the heist had quickly given way to the stress of evading the law. Every creak of the old house and every distant noise in the woods put everyone on edge, as they waited for the other shoe to drop.

Dutch was particularly on edge, his mood swinging between triumphant and irritable. The strain of leadership and the constant threat of capture were weighing heavily on him. His usual charm and charisma seemed strained, and he had little patience for anyone who questioned him.

Around the campfire one evening, Dutch had made it clear that the spoils of the bank robbery were to be kept within the gang. There would be no sharing with the less fortunate, a decision that left a sour taste in the mouths of many.

"We worked hard for this money," Dutch had declared, his eyes blazing. "We take all the risks. This is for us, for our future. We can't afford to be charitable when we're fighting for our lives."

Evangeline had noticed the shift in Dutch's demeanor. His once noble ideals of helping the downtrodden seemed to be fading, replaced by a ruthless pragmatism. She could see the unease in the eyes of the others as well. The camaraderie that had once bound them together was starting to fray at the edges.

Arthur, always perceptive, had confided in Evangeline one night. "Dutch is changing. I don't know if it's the pressure or if he's always been this way and we're just seeing it now. But something's off."

Evangeline nodded, understanding his concerns. "We just have to stick together, Arthur. No matter what happens, we have to look out for each other."

It was with these thoughts weighing heavily on her mind that Evangeline decided a trip to town was in order. She needed to get away from the tense atmosphere of the camp, if only for a few hours. She gathered John, Mary-Beth, and Tilly and set off in the wagon, hoping that the change of scenery would do them all some good.

The town was bustling with activity as they arrived, a stark contrast to the oppressive quiet of the camp. Evangeline guided the wagon to a stop outside the general store. "Alright, let's get what we need and take our time. No rush," she said, giving John a knowing look.

John nodded, helping Mary-Beth and Tilly out of the wagon. "You got it, Evangeline. We'll keep an eye out."

Inside the store, they split up to gather their supplies. Evangeline moved through the aisles, her mind still replaying Dutch's fiery speech. As she approached the counter, she spotted a stack of newspapers. Curiosity piqued, she picked one up and scanned the headlines. Her heart sank as she saw the front-page article detailing the recent bank robbery. The law was closing in, and there were sketches of Dutch, Arthur, and Hosea. The images were crude but recognizable, and her pulse quickened with fear.

A flood of thoughts and emotions raced through her mind. The reality of their situation hit her hard. The bank robbery, while successful, had put an even larger target on their backs. The law wouldn't rest until they were all either captured or dead. The idealistic dream Dutch once painted was slipping further away with each passing day, replaced by a grim struggle for survival.

She thought of Arthur and his quiet doubts, the way he would look off into the distance, his brow furrowed with concern. He had always been their rock, the one who could see through the haze of Dutch's charisma to the hard truths beneath. Evangeline worried about him most of all. Arthur was loyal to a fault, but even his patience was wearing thin. How much longer could he, could any of them, keep this up?

Evangeline folded the newspaper and tucked it under her arm, her mind racing with the implications of the article. They needed to be more cautious, to lay low and avoid drawing any further attention. The world outside the camp was closing in, and their sanctuary felt more fragile than ever.