Liars And Thieves

Chapter 31

"Well, I've finished the posters," Grace called out to Arthur as she walked out of the house towards him by the fountain, waving them up at him. He grinned, slapping John on the shoulder before John left his side. "Want to go put 'em up with me?" She offered with a warm grin. Arthur took a poster out of her small hand, reading it before nodding as he scanned it.

"Believable enough, as always. I wish I could but Hosea wants to talk. Want to come?" Arthur offered, handing back the poster. Grace took it, placing it on top of the small stack. She hesitated for a moment, she  knew if she wanted these horses gone soon she should put them up now but she was also quite curious to what Hosea wanted to talk to Arthur about. Maybe it was about his idea of robbing the Saint Denis bank. She nodded.

"Sure," she answered. Grace looked down at the posters in her hand before quickly catching a glimpse of Tilly walking by. She quickly tapped her on the shoulder, Tilly jumping slightly. The poor girl's face  was still a little bruised, better bruised then dead. "Could you put these in my room please? It's urgent," Grace asked politely. Tilly grinned at her, looking at Arthur also and nodded. 

"Of course," She agreed, taking the posters from her hands. Tilly looked down at them, grinning before looking back up at her. "I wouldn't sell those horses, they are beautiful!"

"So is money, Miss Jackson," Grace added before Arthur grabbed her hand, gently dragging her away as Tilly turned towards the house, carrying the stack of posters in one hand and reading one in the other. Arthur and Grace found Hosea sitting a little far away from the camp, by the bell that stood alone. 

"Hosea," Arthur greeted as the two of them joined the man. Hosea looked up at them both, giving them a welcoming nod.

"Hey, Arthur. Miss Peters," Hosea added, acknowledging Grace as she joined the conversation he wanted to have with Arthur. Hosea didn't seem bothered by it however.

"Come on! If we're gonna make it to this party," Dutch's voice was heard as he pushed his way out of the house, the doors flying open as he appeared into view. "We sure as shit better clean up a little," he added as he walked past Sadie who looked over at the group before continuing to where ever she was going. 

"So we're doing this?" Arthur asked as Dutch approached the group, Hosea rising from his seat on a box.

"Oh yeah, old friend Dutch van der Linde has finally shown his true colours," Hosea announced. "Social climbing," he added followed by a wheezy laugh.

"Old Signor Bronte, that horrendous snake," Dutch joined the group for a second before continuing past, turning around while walking backwards to look at both Grace and Arthur. Hosea began to follow Dutch. "- Has invited us to the ball, Cinderella. So my suggestion is we go and get you a gown," Dutch bowed before laughing with Hosea as the two of them walked towards their horses together.

"You son of a bitch," Arthur muttered as he stared after the two men. Grace chuckled, linking her arm with his as she looked up at him.

"Was he talking to me or to you?" Grace chuckled. Arthur rolled his eyes at her comment.

"Who do you think?" He answered sarcastically, removing his arm from her's before reaching into his satchel, turning his body to face her. "Here," he began before pulling out three hundred dollars. Grace couldn't accept the money, instead she just stared at it in his hands. He rolled his eyes once again, with his free hand he grabbed her right hand before placing the money in her open palm. "Go buy yourself a decent dress. The Tailor will surely have something and if you want to blend it, it's got to look fancy. I'll ride with them and you can meet us there?" Arthur explained his plan to her. Grace nodded, she hated taking his money to buy a dress that she would most likely wear only tonight.