𝔴𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔡 𝔰𝔲𝔫 ⟡ ʀɖʀ2

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟸𝟾

Upon returning to camp. I knew we hit the motherload, about four or five thousand in total if I was honest. It would the perfect start when we did leave. Sadie and Nathan head off to bed right away, looking at my pocketwatch near the fire, saying it's almost midnight. Everyone else is long asleep too. I light a cigarette for a nice smoke at the moment, just needing to clear my head. I hadn't given much thought on how we was gonna go about leaving when we did. Where we would go? What would we do? Well, I did know my grandpappy, always had said my parents came into some wealth a couple years after I was born and they ended buying a whole separate sort of place near Strawberry, but we were mostly just in the Great Plains area when I was growing up. I wasn't sure if it was all true, though or even what this place did look like. It's near a river apparently, nice ranch-style home. Perfect for the little ones and maybe a few horses and cattle and chickens I was assuming. My pa only ever talked about it a few months before they was killed, kept saying we was gonna take a family trip over there sometime and stay a couple weeks or so. Guess I was curious at this point but I knew I wanted to make it a home, if it meant Selina and I had a great life together. I knew that place had some land to it too, and I wanted to make sure that Nathan and Lauren had the life they wanted too. That was all that would matter to me in the end of all things. That we was all happy and better off than we ever would be here.

       I puff on my cigarette as I'm just looking up at the rising smoke from the fire, would there ever come a day where this was all going to change. I had to admit, I missed the good ol' days when we were first riding with Dutch and the gang. They were rather pleasant if I was honest. I knew back then, if Dutch had seen me being taken by Pinkertons, he would've gone and killed every single one of them without hesitation. I still couldn't forget the look in his eyes, the blankness, as if I was nothing more than a piece of trash just like he had called me nearly a day later when Mrs. Adler and Ms. Roberts came for me. I looked at him like a dad for a while, just because I had never seen anyone so compassionate for two guys who where both terrified by every person who walked through our area when we was trying to choose what was going to be the next move between Nathan and I. This was where we fell, this was where I dragged Selina and our kid into, this was the fate we had accepted.
Well I goddamn wasn't going to accept it anymore.

"What are you still doin' up, lover boy?" I hear Selina leaning up, a bit dazed because I knew that she was asleep just like the rest of everyone. I throw my cigarette into the fire before standing up. Removing my guns and placing them in the usual spot within the tent. Before I come and just lay myself within her lap as she's sitting up, her long nails coming to comb through my hair. "Something bothering you?"
"Yeah, Sel. I just--- I'm worried 'bout the future. 'Bout everything."
"Why is that? You--- You got the money right?"
"Yes, I did. We got it no problem. Think we're at 'bout four or five thousand at least with everything we've both collected over the last couple months."
"Then let's go... Why--- Why are we waiting?"
"'Cause I need to know this is over, Selina. You saw what happened to Molly. Dutch--- Dutch would think we betrayed him and he'd come for you, me, Nathan, the baby--- He'd show no mercy, Sel. No fuckin' mercy. I--- I can't let it happen."

She lets out a deep sigh before she nods her head in an understanding matter. She looks disappointed and I don't blame her, I was too. I wanted to go. But I knew we needed to stay, just for now. Hopefully it wouldn't be these last few months but if I was to take Sadie's words, Arthur's, they weren't wrong that this was all coming to an end. All of it. I lean myself back up before I'm laying back and allowing her to lay her head upon me. Kissing her forehead gently, I just swallow harshly. "I love you, Selina. We're gonna get there... This is close enough to over."
"Love you too, Ash. I know it is--- I know... Now can we please go back to bed. Camp is gonna start actin' up at five and I really do wanna have the rest of my hours of sleep."
"Yeah--- I know. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."

Next morning came in fast once my eyes were closed. Hear everyone up and awake before I know it. I hear something I didn't want to hear at all. Something that I know will haunt my memory for the coming years.
"Alright! I need all the men to come with me today! We're gonna pull off our last big heist. A train robbery, a rich one too. We are gonna go, get this done. Be off to Tahiti within the next week! The Pinkertons are coming and we need to do this now! Woman and children will stay here and those who aren't fit to go along, all my sons, alongside two of our newest Cleet and Joe, we're going to rock the hell out of this train!"
I lean against the tree beside my tent and I can see Arthur is just shaking his head in a disapproving manner. I wanted to be gone now, for I knew it was always 'just one more'. Saint Denis bank was 'just one more' and I nearly was killed then. I could only imagine what this was going to hold now. Nathan comes up beside me before patting my shoulder. "Last one... Then I say we run." I sigh deeply before I nod my head.
"Let's saddle up!"

There's no inbetween, he makes us all go. I didn't even have time to say goodbye to Selina or anyone. I just had to go. Dutch was down our throats about how this needed to go right and if it didn't, it would be on him. Though, truly, it wouldn't be. He'd find someone else to blame. Train rides straight through Saint Denis and we're all trying to catch up to it. Luka is a big shire and he's doing his best to keep up with the train, though, I figure I should jump onto Nathan's horse, Spookey and this would be it. His arabian can go faster than my shire anyday. Just before a bridge we're on the train as well, bullets flying at us. I look back as Arthur comes on as well, he's coughing up a storm but he's trying to help John. Just before the other male can jump, a bullet strikes him and he falls back on the ground. Dutch claiming he was going to go rescue him. I would believe it when I saw it, thankfully, I wasn't shot this time around and we are able to head back to camp with our money.

Upon returning, we find everything torn up. Pearson is off hiding and I don't see Abigail or Selina anywhere. Tilly arrives with young Jack upon her horse and tells us that Selina and Abigail were taken by the Pinkertons and both were to be tried for murder, pregnant or not. "They took my fuckin' girl--- Sorry Jack."
"They did. They said they was takin' them to Van Horn. They gonna kill 'em, swear to god."
We all look at Dutch who has now claimed he couldn't rescue John and we very well knew that this would mean Jack is an orphan if his momma dies. My son would never live to see the light of day if I let his momma die either. I shake my head for a moment trying to wrap my head around it. Arthur is trying to convince Dutch, but Micah is within his ear as usual. Telling him they won't do nothing to the both of them because they're 'just girls'. I knew damn well that wasn't all that Selina was for me. She wasn't just 'some' girl, she was 'the' girl.
"No harm will come to them, we need to go get this money--- Just--- Don't mind it Arthur, rest of you--- Now, my boys, let's ride!"
"Dutch!" Arthur yells before being left within the dust. "Well, that's that then." He's coughing violently now and he looks to realize myself, Nathan, and Sadie haven't left his side yet. "C'mon Arthur, let's go get 'em. You and me--- And these two fellers here is all we need."
He looks us over for a moment and he knew, he knew i wasn't going to leave my girl to die or my child or Abigail for that matter, Jack needed his mother, especially if John was indeed done for. He's quick to give Tilly some money and tells her to wait for Abigail and Mrs. Adler down at Copperhead landing.
He then turns back to us and with no hesitation, jumps on the back of his horse. "Mr. Sanders, Mr. Miller, Mrs. Adler.... Ride with me!"