Loyalty Divided

Chapter Thirty Nine

A few days had passed since Evangeline and John had returned to camp with their harrowing tale of ambush and survival. The rival gang, though not seen since, had left unsettling markers in the woods near the camp-crudely carved symbols in trees, stones placed in deliberate formations. It was clear they were being watched, their enemies' presence lingering like a dark shadow.

Arthur couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that gnawed at his gut. He knew the look of a hunted man, and right now, he felt like one. Sitting by the campfire, he glanced around at his gang, trying to gauge their readiness for whatever lay ahead. The crackle of the fire and the low murmurs of conversation were comforting, but Arthur's mind was elsewhere.

He caught Evangeline's eye across the flames. She was talking quietly with Dutch, her expression a mix of concern and determination. Arthur felt a pang of protectiveness. He knew she could handle herself, but the thought of those men still out there, possibly planning something, set his teeth on edge.

Arthur stood abruptly, feeling the need to move, to do something. He had a gut feeling, one that had been growing stronger by the hour. He needed to check on Eliza and Isaac. The thought had been simmering in the back of his mind for a while. He had seen them recently, but with everything that had been happening, he couldn't shake the worry that something might be wrong.

He walked over to where his horse was tethered, patting its neck absently as he checked the saddle and reins.

"Where you off to?" John asked, approaching with a curious look.

"Just need to clear my head," Arthur replied, not wanting to delve into the real reason. "Gonna take a ride, see if I can't get a better sense of things."

John nodded, seeming to understand. "Stay safe out there."

With a final nod, Arthur mounted his horse and rode out of camp, the cool evening air brushing against his face.

The woods closed in around him as he guided his horse along familiar trails, the darkness deepening with each passing minute.

The markers left by the rival gang weighed on his mind. They hadn't made a direct move since that day, but Arthur knew better than to let his guard down.

The unease gnawed at him, driving him forward with a sense of urgency.

Hours passed, and finally the silhouette of Eliza's home came into view. He pulled his horse to a stop, the dim light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the yard. The house stood silent and still, a stark contrast to the turmoil in Arthur's mind. He dismounted, tying his horse to the fence, and took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever was to come.

Something seemed off. The house was eerily quiet and dark. A chair was tipped over on the porch and Arthur walked over to it and picked it up. "Eliza?" he called out as he knocked on the door. "Isaac?"

The curtains were drawn over the windows, casting an ominous shadow over the house. Arthur felt a knot form in his stomach as he pushed the door open. The sight that greeted him was one of chaos and destruction. Furniture was overturned, papers were scattered across the floor, and the faint smell of blood hung in the air.

"Eliza?" Arthur called out again, his voice growing more urgent. "Isaac?"

He moved through the house, his eyes scanning for any sign of life. The living room was a mess of broken glass and splintered wood, the remnants of a struggle evident in every corner.

Arthur's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped over a shattered vase, his boots crunching on the shards.

The kitchen was no better. Dishes lay smashed on the floor, and a dark stain spread across the wooden planks, seeping into the cracks. Arthur's throat tightened as he approached the hallway, the sense of dread growing stronger with each step.