Loyalty Divided

Chapter Forty Nine

Arthur awoke to the gray light of dawn filtering through the canvas of his tent. The camp was still quiet, the air thick with anticipation. Today was the day they planned to hit the ferry in Blackwater, a job that had everyone on edge. He sat up, running a hand through his hair, and sighed. He had a bad feeling about it, a gnawing worry that he couldn't shake.

Hosea was already up, his tent neatly packed away. Arthur admired Hosea's discipline and attention to detail; it was one of the many reasons he trusted the older man's judgment implicitly. Today, however, Hosea had decided that he and Arthur would sit out the heist, instead focusing on a real estate scam involving a plot of land not far from Blackwater.

Arthur wasn't sure if he was relieved or worried about that decision. On one hand, avoiding the heist meant staying out of immediate danger. On the other, it meant leaving the gang to face the risk without him and Hosea. Arthur respected Dutch's leadership, but he couldn't deny that the heist seemed more reckless than their usual jobs.

He walked over to the campfire, where Hosea was brewing a pot of coffee. The older man looked up and gave him a knowing smile. "Morning, Arthur. Ready for a bit of land dealing?"

Arthur chuckled, taking a seat beside him. "As ready as I'll ever be. Just hope this scheme of yours pans out."

Hosea handed him a cup of coffee, his expression turning serious. "It will. And don't worry about the ferry job. Dutch has it under control."

Arthur nodded, though the knot in his stomach remained. "I know. Just can't help but worry, I guess."

They finished their coffee in silence, the camp slowly coming to life around them. Once they were ready, Arthur and Hosea mounted their horses and headed out. The ride to the plot of land was uneventful, the scenery passing in a blur of green and brown. Arthur tried to push his worries aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

As they neared the plot of land, Hosea began to outline the details of the scam. "We'll meet with the buyers, give them a good pitch. Make them believe they're getting prime real estate at a bargain. The usual."

Arthur listened, nodding along, but his mind kept drifting back to Blackwater. He trusted Dutch, but something about this job felt off. He glanced at Hosea, who seemed calm and collected as always. That helped a little, but the unease still lingered.

They arrived at the plot of land, a stretch of rolling hills and sparse trees. The buyers were already there, waiting impatiently. Hosea dismounted first, putting on his best salesman smile. "Gentlemen, thank you for meeting us. I assure you, this land is a prime investment."

Arthur followed suit, trying to focus on the conversation. He let Hosea do most of the talking, adding a few comments here and there to bolster the pitch. The buyers seemed interested, nodding along and asking questions. For a moment, Arthur allowed himself to believe that this might go smoothly.

Hosea had a knack for this kind of thing. He spoke with an easy confidence, weaving a story of opportunity and prosperity that seemed to captivate the buyers. Arthur observed them closely, noting their reactions and trying to gauge their level of interest. One of the men, a tall fellow with a graying beard, appeared particularly keen, his eyes lighting up as Hosea described the potential for development on the land.

"Imagine the possibilities," Hosea said, spreading his arms wide. "This land could be transformed into a thriving community. Houses, farms, maybe even a small town center. The potential here is limitless, gentlemen."

Arthur nodded in agreement, adding, "And the price we're offerin'? You won't find a better deal anywhere in these parts. Trust me, I've seen a lot of land, and this is prime real estate."