Loyalty Divided

Chapter Twenty Five

Evangeline stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hat and checking her gun belt one last time. She pulled on a warm shirt and sturdy pants, preparing herself for the meeting with the O'Driscolls. Outside her room, she could hear voices echoing up the stairs-Arthur and Dutch arguing.

Frowning, Evangeline hurried down the steps to find Arthur and Dutch in a heated discussion near the campfire. Arthur's arms were crossed, his expression determined, while Dutch wore a conflicted look on his face.

"Arthur, you're not going. That's final," Dutch stated firmly, his voice tinged with frustration.

Arthur's jaw tightened. "I'm going with her, Dutch," he insisted, his tone unwavering.

Dutch sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Arthur, this is exactly what I was talking about," he said, his voice tinged with concern. "She's a distraction for you."

Evangeline's heart sank at Dutch's words, but she knew Arthur's resolve wouldn't easily be swayed.

"She needs me, Dutch," Arthur argued back, his voice unwavering. "We can't risk it."

Evangeline stepped closer, feeling the weight of their disagreement pressing on her. "Dutch, please," she interjected softly, meeting his gaze with earnestness. "We need to do this together."

Dutch hesitated, glancing between Arthur and Evangeline, before finally relenting with a resigned sigh. "Fine," he conceded, his tone heavy with reluctance. "But Arthur, you stay close to her. And both of you, be careful."

Arthur nodded, a hint of gratitude softening his features. "Thank you, Dutch," he said sincerely.

With Dutch's reluctant agreement settled, Arthur and Evangeline wasted no time in gathering their gear and heading toward their horses. John was already outside, calmly adjusting the saddle on his sturdy mount. Evangeline approached him with a nod of acknowledgment, while Arthur checked the straps on his saddle with practiced ease. He glanced over at Evangeline and John, his expression softening despite the tension that still lingered between him and Dutch.

"You ready for this?" Arthur asked quietly, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

John glanced over, meeting Arthur's gaze with a reassuring smile. "Always ready," he replied confidently, his voice steady.

Evangeline nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Arthur returned her smile, a sense of camaraderie settling between them despite the gravity of their mission. He turned to Dutch, who stood nearby, his arms folded across his chest.

"We're going to need to keep an eye out," Dutch reminded them, his voice serious. "Colm's not someone to take lightly."

"We know," Arthur affirmed, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We'll handle this."

Dutch nodded gruffly, his earlier reservations tempered by the undeniable resolve in Arthur's voice. "Just be careful, all of you," he said, his voice gruff with concern.

"We will," Evangeline assured him, her voice steady.

As Dutch, Arthur, John, and Evangeline set off together, the rhythmic hoofbeats of their horses filled the evening air. Evangeline kept her focus on the path ahead, her thoughts swirling with a mix of determination and unease.

She couldn't shake the memory of Colm's previous actions-the way he had crossed boundaries, leaving her feeling vulnerable and unsettled. The mere thought of facing him again made her skin crawl, but she knew she couldn't let fear dictate her actions now.