Lonesome | Arthur Morgan

Chapter 2

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Lilian pushes the branches to reveal herself, standing in front of them with a scowl, even if she quivered slightly at their intense stare. It was the peculiar group that were staring at her earlier. They stopped talking and looked between each other in confusion when they noticed who had interrupted them. "You know it may not be best for you to bad mouth my father at his own event and on his own grounds. You never know who could be listening."

Each man shuffled uncomfortably as they had been caught by one of the people they had wished not to bump into.
"Ah Miss Jackleson. Sorry to disturb you at your party. Me and my associates were just discussing potential business with your father." The man reassured her with a bow and a smile. His black hair had been combed back, the same with most of them, trying their best to fit in with the rest of the gentlemen here but they stuck out like sore thumb. "I'm Dutch Van Der Linde. Hopefully we shall be seeing you around more often if the plans go well with your father." He smiled through his thick moustache and let his hazel eyes not loose contact with Lilian's.

Lilian wasn't impressed and didn't know whether she could trust these men or not. Another man was a little older than the rest, greyish hair and a kinder face than the rest standing a little father back with a long darker haired gentleman with a large scar on his face. She looked over the men, taking in each detail, mainly noticing the male closer to her side. A man with a stubble jaw and green eyes that seemed harsh yet not so harmful. "Hm I-i best get back to the guests. Enjoy your evening, gentlemen. My father is probably available for you now, please ignore anything he says if he is drunk though cause he most certainly doesn't m-mean it." Lilian mentally kicked herself for rambling slightly. She smiled sweetly to them followed by a curtesy, her eyes wandering up to the tall, mousey brown haired man that she felt curious by. She had to rip her eyes away from him, too lost in his metaphorical pull as his eyes catches hers.

"And you ma'm. Don't worry, their should be no problems." Dutch smiled as she walked away, his eyes going back to the rest of the gang where they exchanged a few looks and comments worried bout their encounter with Lilian before heading back out into the crowds of people.

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Lilian had got lost in conversation with many guests, many asking her about her courting and other rather boring questions that had her drifting in and out of conversation. In the corner of her eyes she could see Dutch and his group passing by, her head turning to watch them make their way up the garden steps of the house with her father and two of her brothers. "Please do excuse me."  She bowed to the group she was in conversation with and made her way to slowly follow behind.

She lost them for a second before she heard voices upstairs in the study where most of father's meetings took place. She hadn't really been interested in her father's work, well until now. She quietly, but promptly, rushed her feet over to the study door and pressed her ear up against the key hole.

"You just so happen to know he's going to be heading down that road at that time?" Dutch and Mr Jackleson had been discussing a potential carriage robbery up on the outskirts of Valentine. This was a common job that Dutch's gang took up from many associates as it was easy money and the law wasn't around in the parts they were sent to.

"Of course. I have many connections, Mr Van Der Linde. Especially, cause I do have a strong disliking to Mr Greaves." Lilian's father lit a cigar and sat down in the large green velvet chair that sat in front of a dark oak desk, just in front of the grand fireplace. "You will get a lot of money from this job. I'm saying $5,000." He shrugged his shoulders and placing his lighter into a draw.