Of Saints and Sinners

Chapter 5

Polite Society, Valentine Style

Char had just finished wringing out her clothes and left them hanging on the line to dry. Most of her pants were dirtied from blood, whether it be from hunting animals, hunting bounties, or just patching someone up. After hanging up her clothes, she walked across camp to grab a bowl of stew and sat down at the table. She absentmindedly ate her bowl of stew when a hand rested on her shoulder, causing her to jolt and almost spill her stew onto her shirt.

"Jesus," Arthur said as he retracted his hand, "Didn't mean to scare you." Charlotte regained her composure, finishing off her stew.

"It's fine," she waved off, "Just stuck in a day dream, is all."

"Anyway," he cleared his throat, "Wanna go into Valentine with me and Uncle?" Char stared blankly at Arthur when he mentioned Uncle. She then shrugged her shoulders and got up to put her bowl away.

"Sure," she said as she soaked the bowl in the tub, "I needed to run a few errands there anyway." She began to walk away, but Arthur grabbed her hand.

"Errands?" he questioned.

"Clothes and supplies for my wagon," she clarified. Arthur let go of her hand and nodded.

"And you're wearing that?" he pointed to her outfit. She was wearing a dark blue, long sleeved flannel that was buttoned up to the top to hide the scar on her neck, and a black prairie skirt that sat high on her waist.

"Well yeah," she looked down at her outfit, "It's laundry day."

"Hmm," he said as the both of them walked to the wagon where Uncle was waiting, "I think you good in dresses."

"Uh, thanks?" Char said, trying to hide a blush on her face. The two reached the wagon, Char about to climb in the back of the wagon when Karen walked up to them.

"If you two are gonna take the old man into town, could you take us too?" Karen asked as Mary Beth and Tilly walked up to them as well.

"Why, what you got planned?" Arthur asked, Char walked up beside him.

"Nothing," the blonde answered, "We'll find something for y'all to do. We always do."

"We're bored outta our minds," Mary Beth said, "Been cooped up here for two weeks now. Karen's about ready to murder Grimshaw."

"Well, can Miss Grimshaw spare you?" Arthur asked. Mary Beth sighed, Tilly put her hands on her hips, and Karen waved her hands in the air.

"'Can Miss Grimshaw spare you?' What's happened to you, Arthur? Three young healthy women want to take 'em robbing, and you're worried about house chores?" Karen said.

"Come on Arthur," Char interjected, "Let them join us. If they're not coming with us to rob some folks, I'm gonna end up doing it."

"I thought you said you was just running errands?" Arthur turned to Char, who put her hands on her hips.

"A woman could do two things," she defended, "Just let them come, it'll be fun. You do know how to have fun, right?"

Arthur stared at Char for a moment before sighing and giving in, "Fair enough, you got me," he turned to the girls, "Come on then." The four women squealed in delight as they climbed into the back of the wagon.

"I can't believe we're going to see civilization," Tilly said, "Feels like weeks since we did!"

Uncle snorted, "Yeah, Valentine. The  very embodiment of civilization. You ladies are going to love it."

"Okay then," Arthur said as he grabbed the reins, snapping them, "Let's go!" Char sat next to Mary Beth and opposite to Karen. The ride was a silent ride as they were leaving camp. As soon as they had gotten onto the main path to town, Uncle spoke up.