Just Like Old Times

The Horses

"We need to move towards a conclusion now," Dutch explained to Arthur.

"Sure, but what's this gotta do with any of that?" Arthur asked him.

"Some good honest conflict between the army and the Indians might be just the distraction we need. Kill two birds with one stone. Cornwall was funding the Pinkertons' assault on us. Why do you think I dealt with him?"

"For Lilly!" Arthur barked out. "Or is that another two birds with one stone analogy?"

"Yes, it is. We got revenge for what happened to Lilly, and with Cornwall gone, the government is far more likely to divert them to other issues, especially if there's one more scandal. And then we can slip away. Like I said, we just need that noise and one more score. You know, I went back for the chest I had hidden outside Shady Belle, and we're close, Arthur. That dynamite, the railroad contract with the army, it was all in those papers Micah found. I have a plan. You just have to trust me."

"Revenge, huh?" Arthur said. "I ain't so sure revenge is what Lilly wants anymore, Dutch. You saw what she did to Brutus."

"Yes, and that concerns me. I should ask her what you and Hosea were talkin' about."

The group got near the river and Arthur saw an Indian and two canoes down a ways. They dismounted and walked over.

"There's Paytah," Eagle Flies said as he pointed to the other Indian. Paytah stood up but backed up when he saw Brian and James. He gaped at Eagle Flies and he laughed. "It's okay, Paytah. These are Mrs. Morgan's wolves, Brian and James." Eagle directed to the three respectively. "These men, and her, like I said...they'll help us."

"I got the canoes," said Paytah, then he pointed out to the river. "The boat is still moored in the channel."

"Good. Let's wait 'til nightfall."

They set up a small camp site near the river and Lilly settled next to Arthur near a large boulder. The wolves nestled down near her and she scratched behind their ears. "So," Dutch said as he approached them both. "Lilly, can we talk about somethin'?"

Lilly smiled up at him. "Sure, Da. 'Bout what?"

Dutch knelt down in front of her. "Hosea and Arthur said somethin' about what Catherine Braithwaite said to you. Would you mind tellin' me what they meant?"

Arthur saw Lilly's face go pale. "Da, I..."

"If you don't want me to know, that's okay. But can you explain this...this snake and rat business?"

Lilly sighed. "I believe someone is manipulatin' you, Da. I don't know who, and I can't prove it yet, but I'm tellin' ya, Molly wasn't our rat."

Dutch sighed. "Maybe so, but..."

"But nothin', Da!" She stood up. "Excuse me." Lilly turned and walked away from them both and the boys followed.

Arthur shook his head. "She's takin' Molly's death really hard."

Dutch nodded. "I...I am, too. I loved her, Arthur."

"I know."

"But if she wasn't the rat, she was...Christ, Arthur..."