Loyalty Divided

Chapter Twenty Eight

As Arthur and Evangeline gathered their things and prepared to make the journey back to camp, Ben approached them with a warm smile.

"Hold up a moment, you two," Ben said, his voice calm yet earnest. "There's something I want to give you before you go."

Arthur paused, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What's that, Ben?"

Ben took a deep breath, looking at them both with appreciation. "You two have been good company. It's not often I get visitors out here, and you've both been a real pleasure to have around."

Evangeline smiled, her eyes warm. "We've enjoyed it too, Ben. Thank you for your hospitality."

Ben nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I've got a little something for each of you. Just a small token of appreciation."

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped package, handing it to Arthur. "This is for you, Arthur. Hope it comes in handy."

Arthur accepted the package, giving Ben a nod. "Thanks, Ben. Appreciate it."

Ben then turned to Evangeline, his smile widening as he pulled out a neatly tied bundle of books from a satchel. "And for you, Evangeline. I know we talked about your love for reading, so I put together a collection of books I think you'll enjoy."

Evangeline's eyes lit up as she took the bundle. "Ben, this is wonderful! Thank you so much."

Ben chuckled, clearly pleased with their reactions. "I'm glad you like them. Safe travels, both of you. And take care of each other out there."

"We will," Arthur assured him. "You take care too, Ben."

Ben smiled warmly. "I hope to see you again soon."

As Arthur and Evangeline turned to leave, Ben called out one last time. "And don't be strangers if you're ever in the area again!"

"We won't," Evangeline promised, waving as they started down the path back to camp.

The journey back to the old abandoned house where the gang was camped was quiet and peaceful, the night air cool and crisp. As they arrived, Copper bounded up to greet them, tail wagging furiously.

Arthur dismounted and knelt down to pet his loyal dog. "Hey there, boy. Miss us?"

Copper barked happily, and Evangeline laughed. "Looks like he did."

They walked into the house, where the gang was gathered around a small fire. Dutch looked up. "Oh," he said rather coldly. "You're back."

Arthur frowned slightly but kept his tone neutral. "Yeah, we're back." He placed his belongings on the empty table.

Evangeline, sensing Dutch's lingering distrust, spoke up softly. "We met someone who was very kind to us. He even gave us some gifts."

Dutch's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded curtly. "That's nice. I suppose everyone could use a bit of kindness these days."

Hosea, always the peacemaker, interjected with a smile. "What did you get?"

Arthur held up his small package, unwrapping it to reveal a finely crafted knife with an intricately engraved handle. "A fine gift," Arthur noted, admiring the craftsmanship.

Evangeline carefully untied the bundle of books, her eyes shining with excitement as she read the titles aloud. "Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights... These are wonderful."

Mary Beth's eyes widened with admiration. "Those are some of my favorites. You're lucky, Evangeline."

Dutch, still somewhat distant, gave a brief nod. "Well, it's good you had a pleasant encounter." He paused, then looked directly at Arthur. "Who was it you met, anyway?"