Unshaken

Back to Black

They packed some supplies and headed back to Roanoke Ridge as the sun started to set. "It's almost been a month since that mess." Arthur said. "Shouldn't be anyone lurking." Liam added. "Let's hope not." Arthur grunted as they rode into the bordering state. The air grew slightly more humid as they moved closer to Beaver Hollow. Liam's heart started to race as they rode up the hill back to the forsaken camp.

The night grew silent as the two climbed off their horses and walked to the camp. "Just as sad as when we left it." Liam said quietly. Cleet's dead body had been turned into a rotten corpse. They stood for a moment and stared at it all. Remnants of the gang had been there. They held up their lanterns and went to their old tents. Arthur started to gather his things he'd left behind. Liam went to his tent and grabbed his old pictures and other belongings as well. Flashbacks of the gang here had taken over his mind. He hated to think about it. They met up at Arthur's wagon.

"Anything else we need?" Liam asked. "Not that I can think of." Arthur said, putting the last of his items away. They then looked at each other in surprise as horse hooves rode up from the south side of Beaver Hollow. The two ran and quickly hid behind the wagon and watched to see who had rode up. It was Pinkertons.

"What is the point of doing these nightly searches? It's been so long since that massacre, of course those bastards wouldn't be here. I'll be glad when Ross drops dead. I bet he was ecstatic that Milton was shot so he could move up in the world." The Pinkerton complained as the four climbed off their horses. "Yeah, Ross makes me miss Mr. Milton." The other agent said as the group dispersed throughout Beaver Hollow. Arthur quietly started down the path to the Kamassa River as Liam followed. Liam remembered something that stopped him in his tracks. "Wait." He whispered. "What?" Arthur asked, confused. "The money in the caves. Where Abigail said it was. You still got the key?" Liam asked. "Shit. I forgot all about that. That could be our ticket out west, but that's if it's even still there." Arthur said. "Worth a look." Liam insisted. "Alright. Let's go through the other way back into them godforsaken caves." Arthur said. They climbed up the hill around the back entrance. They climbed down the ladder quietly, being careful not to slip and reveal themselves.

"Abigail said it was under a wagon somewhere in here." Liam muttered as he followed Arthur. They climbed down a few structures and slowly made their way through the cave until they came upon the wagon. Arthur crouched and looked under it, pulling out a dusty chest. He dug the key out of his satchel and stuck it in the keyhole. As he turned it, they heard a click from the chest. Liam's eyes lit up as Arthur opened the top. Inside were stacks of cash and bars of gold. Liam's jaw dropped and Arthur shook his head in astonishment. They couldn't believe it was still there.

"I hear something moving. Down in the cave." A Pinkerton yelled to his other companions. "Surely not, but it wouldn't hurt to look. Remember boys, be careful." The lead agent said as they entered the cave. Liam looked at Arthur for instructions. "Goddammit. Okay, let's take them out quietly. Go hide behind those rocks and get them from behind." Arthur said as the two split up. Liam crouched and moved with the agility he was known for behind a rock formation and staked his position. He heard footsteps and a light coming towards him. He grabbed a throwing knife. The agent walked down the path past Liam. Liam threw his knife, hitting the Pinkerton in the spine. The man fell to the ground, shaking with paralyzation as he died. "What's that?" Another agent asked as he went to investigate. As he came upon the body of his fallen companion, Liam ran up behind him and started to choke him to death. Through a struggle, he was successful. He caught his breath and went to find Arthur.

Arthur stood above the two other agent's bodies, putting his knife back into its holster. "Okay, let's get that money and go before more turn up." Arthur told him. They filled up a nearby saddlebag with the money. Arthur threw the heavy bag over his shoulder and followed Liam out of the cave.

They climbed on their horses and rode out, heading back to Chez Porter in the dead of the night.