Liars And Thieves

Chapter 50

The ride felt longer than what it was, during the ride Grace began to regret sending Molly away. Dutch was going to lose it at her, possibly cause a scene in front of everyone. Grace knew it was the best solution for Molly but Dutch would think differently. 
Grace dismounted, hitching Kaya to a hitching post that was accompanied by Arthur's horse. Grace walked her way into the camp that was being put together, getting looks of confusion by her camp mates. She knew they knew Molly was meant to be with her.

"Grace, where's Molly?" Dutch asked calmly. Grace spotted Dutch standing in front of her already. She had gotten so distracted by the others that she didn't realise she had walked right over to him. Grace didn't say a word as she felt the tension building as everyone gathered around. "Grace... where is Ms. O'Shea?" Dutch demanded this time, his voice growing louder.

"Gone," Grace answered. Dutch stood there, staring her down. He seemed to ignore the crowd around them as his eyes burned into her. Grace felt uncomfortable but it had to be done.

"What do you mean gone?" Dutch demanded with a growl. Grace looked over at the others as they all listened, curious to where Molly had gone. "I gave you a job and you...you-"

"She's gone home to her family. It was my decision," Grace explained. Dutch froze in anger. Grace could see flames building in his eyes as he burned with rage. 

"She will rat you goddamn fool!" Dutch bellowed at her, making her jump slightly. Grace could hear murmuring surround her before footsteps approached them.

"What's going on?" Arthur demanded, pushing past everyone. He stepped beside Grace, passing looks at the two of them. "One of you going to explain?" He continued. 

"Ask her, she just got us into more shit," Dutch growled, rubbing a hand on his face as he tried to calm himself down. Arthur turned to Grace, giving her a look of confusion.

"I put Molly on a boat, she's going home," Grace explained. Arthur nodded at her before looking back at Dutch.

"Is that an issue? Really, Dutch? With everything else going on, you're worried about Ms. O'Shea?" Arthur questioned, attempting to get Dutch to think clearly. Dutch shook his head viciously.

"It's a damn issue because she'll rat!" Dutch hissed. Arthur scoffed lightly before looking back at him.

"Molly won't rat, you know that. She wouldn't want to hurt you," Arthur reminded. Grace nodded in agreement with him.

"We don't know what she will do," Micah butted in. Grace rolled her eyes as soon as Micah moved away from Dutch's tent, joining the group. "If she feels scared she will rat." Grace was ready to expose Micah then and there, was he really trying to say Molly could rat? Everyone knows Molly would never rat. 

"She told me she won't," Grace spat at the two of them. "Molly's always been loyal, she would die for you Dutch and you know that," Grace's fists clenched at her sides, she couldn't believe they were even having this discussion.

"She told you? So that's meant to mean something?" Micah laughed. Grace glared at him however she still remained calm. Micah looked at Dutch, nudging the man lightly. "You have every right to be mad, Dutch. Molly's been gone for weeks, that would've been the perfect opportunity to rat. Perhaps even Ms. Peters helped her with ratting, that would explain why she got her out of here. Molly wouldn't handle being ripped to shreds by the boys," Micah hissed, turning his evil eyes back to Grace. 

"Micah, get out of here!" Susan roared from the crowd along with others nodding with her. Micah chuckled once again at the woman. "Grace never left Lakay except for when she took the letter to Shady Bell so you fools could find us."

"ENOUGH!" Dutch shouted over everyone. Everyone fell silent as Dutch took a step closer to Grace, his face inches away from hers as he pointed at her. "If I find out she ratted, I'll kill you," Dutch warned before storming off to his tent. Grace and Arthur stood there as everyone faded away, going back to what they were doing. 

"What were you thinking?" Arthur asked. Grace snapped out of her thoughts, looking up at him. He didn't sound mad, he sounded concerned. 

"She needed to leave, you and I both know that. It was the best option for her," Grace explained. She sighed, her breath hitching in her throat as she continued. "W-who knows what she would've done if she came back. When I found her, she wasn't the same anymore."

"Okay," Arthur said bluntly. Grace waited for him to say something else but he didn't, he just nodded slightly before finally speaking again. "How do we know she won't say anything though?" Arthur asked. Grace looked down, she knew she didn't have an answer to that question.

"We don't. We just need to trust Molly like we would with anyone else here," Grace sighed. Arthur nodded before pulling her into him, comforting her. She stayed completely still, beginning to worry about everything. Her hands hung down by her sides, not even finding the strength to return the embrace. 

"It'll be okay," Arthur poised. She felt Arthur's lips find the top of her head, holding the back of her head in one hand as he kept her close to him before pulling away and leaving her. Grace watched as he walked away before she was soon joined by Karen.

"Ignore Micah, okay?" Karen comforted, placing a hand on Grace's shoulder. Grace looked at the woman, giving her a nod. "We all know you would never rat. Even if Molly and I didn't have high opinions of each other, I know she would never rat either. Micah is just trying to work you up," Karen continued, giving her shoulder a small squeeze of reassurance. Karen gave her a small grin before heading off again. Grace appreciated the woman's comfort, she was glad that at least some of the camp saw past Micah's poison tongue.  Grace found her feet finally move away from the spot where she felt attacked by Micah, her hand rested against the trunk of a tree as she caught her breath before sitting down against the rough bark of the tree. She rested her head back against the tree, staring up in between the branches and leaves to see the sky. The warmth of the sun embraced her, calming her instantly. Micah didn't make her afraid, it was what Molly said about him that did. If Micah finds out that Grace is going to investigate Molly's theory and finds out that what Molly said is true, he'll be after her. Grace had noticed since the group returned from Guarma, Micah has been hovering around Dutch like a fly. If he gets in Dutch's ear, he could easily convince Dutch that Molly ratted about something that Micah ratted about, putting Grace in danger. Grace knew she had to prove Micah to be the rat, she just needed a plan. For now, she couldn't tell anyone what Molly told her. It's safer to keep it to herself until she needs to tell someone, that someone will be Arthur first. Until she knows who she trusts, she'll be keeping to herself until she figures out something.