Liars And Thieves

Chapter 17

The next morning Grace stared across the table and watched as Arthur rode out of the camp. They didn't talk since their serious conversation yesterday. Grace sipped the coffee in her cup, licking the liquid off of her lips as she placed the cup back on the table. She almost jumped when she heard Dutch behind her.

"Good morning, Grace."

Grace looked over her shoulder at him, giving Dutch a warm smile. She tugged her shawl up onto her shoulder more.

"Morning. Where's he off to so early?" Grace questioned. Dutch looked out at Arthur who was just visible through the trees. 

"He must be off to go see Javier and John about those horses. Arthur said something to me about bringing you along, did he tell you?" Dutch questioned, looking back down at her.

"Yesterday. Guess he changed his mind," Grace sighed before taking another sip. Dutch caught himself before sighing before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, I'm sure there is something else you can do. Or you can have a break. You deserve it after everything you have done lately," Dutch praised once again. Grace grinned, nodding. 

"Sure. Thank you," she thanked before he walked off to Micah. Grace watched as Micah sat in front of Dutch's tent. She had begun to realise that Micah was pushing himself up to the top, trying to at least. Grace sipped the last bit of her coffee before getting out of her seat, pulling her shawl up onto her shoulders as it slipped. She took her cup over to the dishes to get washed. "Things good with you and Karen?" Grace questioned as she placed her cup down with the dishes, Mary-Beth slipping beside her. Mary-Beth gave a nod.

"Yeah. Has she given up drinking though? No," Mary-Beth sighed. Grace nodded at her, looking over to where Karen and Tilly were sitting by the tree near the poker table. "I've tried to talk to her about it. So has everyone but she just won't listen."

"Yeah, that's normally the case when you're in too deep. She only has herself to blame," Grace spoke truthfully. Mary-Beth hesitated but nodded, agreeing. "Trust me, I wish we could help her somehow." Mary-Beth nodded again before her eyes widened.

"I almost forgot! Charles is wanting to talk to you about something. He didn't say what though, he said that he would've come and looked for you himself but he is busy preparing," Mary-Beth informed. Grace nodded at her, giving Mary-Beth a small smile.

"Thank you. I should go see what he wants," Grace excused herself. As Grace walked away from Mary-Beth, Mary-Beth headed back towards Karen and Tilly. Grace paused near the main camp fire, scanning the camp for Charles. She spotted Charles sitting on a crate by the camp entrance, Bill hovering around him. "Morning, Charles," Grace greeted as she approached. Charles looked up from his knife, putting his knife away. Grace looked at Bill. "Bill."

"This is last minute planning, sorry if you had any plans," Charles apologised. Charles motioned to Bill behind him who had his arms crossed. "But blame Bill. It's one of his plans."

"Well it ain't my fault Miss Jones is sick from drinking and John pissed off to god knows where!" Bill spat, taking a step forward to Charles. Charles ignored him as Bill marched past Charles up to Grace. "You did well on the bank robbery! What would you say to performing a coach robbery?" Bill questioned her. Grace chuckled as she looked down to Charles than back at Bill.

"Do I got much of a choice?" Grace joked. Charles grinned slightly and Bill continued to stare at Grace. 

"Well...no. Look, all you got to do is stand in the middle of the road and act lost and scared then me and Charles will jump out and you draw your weapon and we rob them like that," Bill explained.