Loyalty Divided

Chapter Thirty

Dutch glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes before he quickly composed himself. "Arthur, Hosea," he greeted them with forced nonchalance, though the tension in the air was palpable.

Arthur stepped into the room, his gaze sweeping over the scattered papers and the determined set of Dutch's jaw. "This ain't our place, Dutch," he continued, his voice low yet firm. "You know better than this."

Hosea stood beside Arthur, his expression inscrutable as he observed the scene unfolding before them. The red-haired woman lingered in the shadows at the back of the room, her gaze fixed on Arthur and Hosea with a hint of disdain, as if she disapproved of their presence.

Dutch held up a handful of papers, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement. "Look at this, Arthur," he insisted, his eyes gleaming with fervor. "Bonds, Arthur. We could sell these."

Arthur's jaw tightened, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He snatched the papers from Dutch's hand and slammed them back onto the desk with a sharp thud. "No," he asserted firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction.

Hosea stepped forward, his voice calm yet tinged with disappointment. "Dutch, this ain't the way," he admonished gently, his gaze fixed on their leader's troubled face. "We don't need this kind of trouble."

Arthur grabbed the papers from the desk, his hands moving with a mixture of frustration and determination. Without a word, he began to stuff them haphazardly into the drawers of the desk, his movements quick and purposeful. "Ben is too good a man," Arthur muttered under his breath as he worked, his voice low yet tinged with conviction. He glanced over at Hosea, who watched him silently with a mixture of concern and understanding. "Now, you can steal from someone else, Dutch, but don't steal from my friend. He's been too good to us," Arthur continued, his tone firm and resolute.

Dutch paced the room restlessly, his frustration palpable. "We need money, Arthur," he insisted, his voice tinged with urgency. "More than ever."

Arthur scoffed softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "There are other ways, Dutch," he replied tersely, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction. "We ain't gotta resort to this."

Hosea stepped forward, his voice calm yet firm. "Arthur's right, Dutch," he interjected, his gaze steady as he addressed their leader. "We've made it this far without compromising our principles. Let's not start now."

Dutch's expression darkened, torn between their differing perspectives. He knew the desperation of their situation, the constant pressure to stay one step ahead of the law and their enemies. But he also understood Arthur's unwavering loyalty and the trust they had built with Ben.

"We'll find another way," Arthur asserted, his voice unwavering as he met Dutch's gaze.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor outside the room. The four of them exchanged quick glances, a silent agreement passing between them as they hastily left the room. They emerged into the hallway just as Ben and Evangeline rounded the corner.

Ben raised an eyebrow inquisitively as he noticed their hurried demeanor. "Everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Arthur exchanged a quick glance with Hosea before speaking. "Just showing Dutch around your impressive estate, Ben," he replied smoothly, his voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline still coursing through him.

Evangeline, standing beside Ben, looked between them with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft yet filled with genuine concern for Arthur.

Arthur met her gaze briefly, offering her a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine, darlin'," he assured her quietly, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze hers in a silent gesture of reassurance.