Unshaken

Money Lending and Other Sins

The sun shone into Liam's tent. He groaned as he woke. He climbed to his feet. It wasn't nearly as bad as Valentine, but it didn't feel amazing. He walked to the wash bin and splashed the cold water on his face. "You too?" Karen asked. "I'm pretty sure everyone here got plastered, Miss Jones." Liam said wiping his face. "I'll agree with you there. Ain't nobody round here looking like themselves." She said laughing walking off, awkwardly. She wasn't drunk anymore. Liam wondered why she was walking so weird. He walked past Abigail and Jack's tent to see Arthur and Strauss talking near the cliff.

Liam listened in. He didn't want to be nosy, but it had to have been important for them to meet this early. "Loaning? Already?" Arthur asked Leopold Strauss. "You know how it is... people is happy to borrow off someone like me, but more enthusiastic paying back to someone like you." Herr Strauss said with his unusual Austrian accent. "Of course. Who are they?" Arthur asked, looking down at the ledger of debts Leopold was opening up. Strauss listed off three names including Chick Matthews, a hand at Guthrie Farms, Mr. Wröbel, a German immigrant who borrowed a small amount from the Gang, but never intended on paying it back, and Lilly Millet, a ranch maid working at Emerald Ranch. "And here was me believing Dutch's bluster about helping us folk." Arthur growled . "It's legal work, Mr. Morgan", said Strauss trying to undermine the fact that most of these people were just trying to survive. Liam had no idea that the gang loaned people money, and then sent Arthur to get after them.

It didn't seem like Arthur would be the type, but Liam thought this was the way things had to be when you lived like this. He quickly went back to the center of camp when they were done talking. He heard Arthur huff as he walked by to his horse. He seemed annoyed to be the local loan shark. Liam sighed as he walked to the cliff to talk to Strauss. "What's that book you got there?" He asked. "Why hello, Herr Parker. Oh, you know, a list of debtors. They always seem to pay Herr Morgan back." He said. "I'm sure they do." Liam said crossing his arms and observing the landscape before them. "You could start collecting debts too, if you'd like. You can always take a percentage." Strauss offered. "I'm good, but thanks, Strauss." Liam declined with small laugh. Strauss always seemed so serious. "Well, I'll let you get back to it." Liam said walking back into camp.

"Loan-sharkin'. Seen people kill themselves over that." Liam said to himself while he picked up a hay bale and brought it to feed the hungry horses. He thought of Lemoyne. The people of Rhodes. The culture was much different there than Valentine. Especially with that stupid feud between The Grays and Braithwaites. One of their gunfights in town had almost gotten Liam killed when he was around thirteen years old. He hated to even think about the place. He must've shown his disdain when Abigail and Jack walked up to him. "Why the sour face? Please tell me the men in this gang ain't turned you cold, too." Abigail said playfully. Liam placed the hay bale down and smiled at Abigail and little Jack. "Of course not, Miss Roberts. Just got that natural look, I guess." He said. She smiled back.

"Mama, is he a gunslinger like Daddy and Uncle Arthur?" Jack asked Abigail. She looked down at him. Liam was taken aback by the question. He'd never really thought of himself as one, even though he'd been starting to ride with the best of them. "Oh, Jack. He ain't just slinging guns, he's helping out. He's been a real pleasure to have around. Can't say that about everyone here." She said looking off. "Thank you kindly, Miss Roberts." He said smiling. He then looked down at Jack. "I ain't a gunslinger, but I guess I'm getting there." Jack looked at him with curiosity. His eyes then lit up and he shot them to his mother. "Mama! Mama! I wanna be a gunslinger when I grow up!" He said, jumping up and down. Abigail looked at him in disgust. "Over my dead body!" She scolded. She then grabbed his arm and drug him off to read. Liam bit his lip at the awkwardness of the situation but got back to work anyway.

Arthur arrived at camp later that day. Liam watched as he went to his tent to find a letter. He read it longingly. Liam wondered what the hell it was. Strauss then walked up and talked with him. Must've been alerting him about another debtor because he was holding his book. Arthur then put the piece of paper into his satchel and climbed on his horse and rode out fast. He looked to be headed to Valentine.