We did it. We left Dutch. It still doesn't feel real. I know Hosea is sad about leaving Dutch behind, but I couldn't see any way out of it.

Hopefully we will be able to find a way to go west, and then gather everyone together.

--------------------------

"You alright, Charles?" The man had looked guilty since they crossed the Lemoyne border heading towards Van Horn.

"I just wish Javier would have come with us."

"I know, me too. But he's smart, and Tilly knows how to get in contact with us." Through Hamish and Charlotte, of course. "He's certainly welcome to join us at any time."

Arthur kept glancing over his shoulder, worried that Micah would try to follow and shoot them for being traitors. Or Dutch, in hopes that he could either convince them to return or figure out where the others were hidden.

But the ride was quiet, as they continued towards Annesburg. Arthur stopped at the stables to get more supplies and treats for Dakota. Then, as he looked over the small mining houses just as the sun was beginning to set over the hills, he stopped.

"What's wrong?" Hosea asked.

"The Murfree Brood. There's a group of them holed up at Beaver Hollow." The last place Arthur wanted to return to.

"A dangerous group of maniacs," Charles said. "What about them?"

He was thinking about the girl from the stagecoach, trapped with the Murfrees for days, forced to watch the others tortured and mutilated. He could save that girl so much pain. "I was thinking about taking care of them. Charles, will you ride with me?"

"Of course." Charles may have been a little confused on the reason, but he was always willing to help Arthur out. Hosea went to get them a room at the inn as Arthur and Charles rode into the woods.

And when the last of the Murfree Brood died under one of Charles' throwing knives, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. Another loose end taken care of, another life saved. Despite his failures since he had returned to Colter, and he was sure there were many, he hoped he had helped more people than he hurt. Most of his family was still alive, he hadn't destroyed the Downes family, or any family in debt with Herr Strauss.

The next morning, they rode the rest of the way to Wapiti. Rains Fall greeted them warmly, and even Eagle Flies looked happy to see them there. But regret and sadness lingered, and before he even asked, Arthur knew.

"Has anything changed with your situation," Arthur carefully asked, but the Chief shook his head.

"It seems that we have many on our side, but it's not enough. News of our troubles have made it all the way to Washington, but…"

"But Cornwall is a powerful man who wants this land," Arthur finished for him.

"And now, they are sending the army into the area, creating more conflict with my people."

"I wish there was something I could do."

"You've already done enough, Mr. Morgan. Have you met Captain Monroe? He has been a great help to us." The familiar captain extended his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Morgan."

"This is Charles, and Hosea." The men shook hands before Rains Fall led Arthur away to talk privately. He overheard Captain Monroe beginning to explain the situation to Hosea, the older man thinking deeply about how to help. Though, if Arthur was honest with himself, there was nothing to be done.

"I wish I could fix this," he said.

"You've done more than enough. I am very grateful for your help, and your warnings. But I'm afraid this is beyond your power to stop."

"Even with everything I know, I could have at least done something! I should have gone after Leviticus Cornwall. Dead men don't need land."

Rains Fall sighed. "I wished to handle this conflict peacefully, but these men aren't interested in peace."

"I should warn you about Colonel Favours. Talking to him is useless."

"I will remember that. My son still wants to fight, but I've started to wonder if we should just leave this place, like you are. Perhaps we would have more luck in Canada."

"But this is your home! Don't you want to fight for it?"

"My people are more important. And this isn't truly our home. This is where we were moved, after the government moved us again and again. I do not wish to force them to find a new place yet again, but the safest path may be the one of least resistance."

"I hope you find it," Arthur said.

"Now, I believe I promised to show you some routes over the Grizzlies," Rains Fall said, and they spent the next hours pouring over maps with Hosea and Charles to get around West Elizabeth. Despite their lack of bounties, Arthur still believed they would be followed if they went any other way.

Once their route was settled, Arthur, Charles and Hosea spent a few days helping around the reservation. Hosea was trying to think through any con that would help keep the army out of the area, though even he admitted it might be beyond his skill. Then, the three departed to collect the two groups: Arthur and Hosea going to Willard's Rest and Charles going to Hamish's cabin. As he rode through the trees on Dakota, he saw Jack and John pretending to sword fight using sticks, Abigail happily watching with a cup of coffee in her hand. Mary-Beth and Charlotte were chatting on the porch, and Kieran and Cal were standing by the paddock, probably discussing horses. This was what he wanted for his future, his whole family, together and happy.

"Uncle Arthur!" Jack noticed him first, dropping his stick and racing towards him. Cain, who had been sniffing around in some bushes, barked and ran after him.

"Hey Jack!"

"We leaving?"

"Soon. We are going to go west and find ourselves a home!"

"Like this one? I really like living in a house."

"Sure, Jack. We are going to build a big house and live there, together. Isn't that right?" He asked the others as they gathered around.

"We leaving now, then?" John asked.

"Oh, stay for dinner at least," Cal offered.

"I think we can manage that. Thank you both for letting them stay here."

"Oh, it was no problem at all! They were a huge help," Charlotte said.

"John even scared off a huge bear that wandered onto the property. Made a nice new rug," Cal joked. Arthur didn't want to hope, but if he inadvertently saved Cal's life by sending John here, it would be a miracle.

Arthur spent the night with the Balfours, unable to stop smiling at the happy, in love couple. The next morning, they said their goodbyes, and hid some money as thanks in a drawer when Cal and Charlotte refused to take it. They rode slowly through the forests, laughing and smiling. The return was almost uneventful, until the very end.

"There's Charles," Hosea said, pointing out the camp they had set up outside the reservation. He was standing still just outside a tent, and even as they dismounted, he knew something was very wrong.

"Charles-" he started to say, when Charles was pushed forward, gun to his back. Micah grinned as he stepped from the tent.

"Hello, son. Hosea." Dutch emerged next to Micah. Javier was there as well, uncomfortable and keeping his gun holstered.

Arthur reached for his revolver, but Micah curled his finger tighter around the trigger and pushed the muzzle into the back of Charles' head, and Arthur froze. "You alright, Charles? Where's Sean and Karen? And Sadie?"

At the sound of their names, muffled cursing could be heard from the tent. That was Sadie, alright. Or Karen. Either way, Charles answered, "They will be alright. Micah hit Sean over the head, but I think he's OK."

"Dutch," Hosea stammered. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"You left me, Hosea. You betrayed me! Do you want to know what happened after you left? Not a day later, the Pinkertons found us. They killed Molly."

"I'm sorry," Hosea said quietly.

"Most of the others ran. Strauss is dead too, we think."

"What about Susan?"

"Had to kick her out," Micah laughed, pushing Charles away to aim his gun at Arthur. "Old bat knew you were leaving and didn't tell the boss. Fortunately, I knew about your little friend up here, Arthur."

"If you hurt Hamish-"

"Relax, cowpoke. We just followed them up here. We need to have a little chat."

Arthur risked a glance behind him. John stood in front with Kieran, Abigail, and Mary-Beth blocking Jack from view. "About what?" Hosea asked, but Arthur already knew.

"You think one of us talked."

"Well, we all know you've had a chat with the Pinkertons, cowpoke. How much did you tell them?"

"Dutch! Come on, now."

"Dutch, Arthur has been with you for twenty years. I've been with you longer. Are you really going to believe Micah over us?" Hosea asked.

Micah had to be the rat, wasn't he? No one else would have talked. But he always thought the Pinkertons had turned Micah after they got back from Guarma. Unless…

"Why were you in Annesburg that day, Micah?"

Hosea breathed in sharply next to him, immediately understanding.

"What are you talking about?" Micah said.

"You saw me with Pinkerton agents in Annesburg, but why were you there?"

"I can't go up to Annesburg now?"

"If you saw me in Annesburg, how did you know where Hamish's cabin was? Why wouldn't you rescue me from the agents? How long have you been a rat, Micah? From then, or from the beginning?"

"How dare you!"

"Oh, it all makes sense. You join the gang, saving Dutch's life in a bar. You pay those guys to attack him? And then you push him into an insane robbery of a ferry that was all over the newspapers. Perfect place for an setup, keeping the townsfolk out of the way, all of us trapped on the water to get slaughtered. Though that backfired for them, didn't it?"

Micah's smile turned dangerous, rage creeping into his features. Dutch looked back and forth between Arthur and Micah. "No, Micah has been loyal. The most loyal of all of you."

"Because he needs you to trust him, Dutch. Played you like a fiddle, simply by agreeing to everything you wanted. And after he failed to get the bounty for you in Blackwater, he had to decide whether to run with you, or run back to the masters he failed. But he got greedy, I bet. Tried to play both sides, until we left. So he cut his losses, a rat escaping a sinking ship."

"He's lying. He's lying, Dutch."

"Dutch," Hosea stepped forward. "Please listen to us. You always did, before Micah came. You've always been ambitious, but you need people to keep you grounded, not feed you impossible dreams! We left because it was becoming too dangerous."

Dutch had yet to draw a weapon, his hands resting next to his revolvers. They were close, so close to getting through to him. Javier was carefully watching Micah as well.

"Hosea… I…"

Something moved in the trees just then, causing Hosea's attention to turn away from Dutch, and Arthur noticed a split second before Micah did. "That's enough, Mr. Van der Linde!" Susan Grimshaw called, shotgun in hand, probably having kept an eye on Micah since the Pinkertons appeared. Any other time, Arthur would have been thankful for her appearance. But it reminded him too much of the last time, and Arthur was moving.

"NO!" he shouted as he pushed himself between Hosea and Micah just as Micah lined up his shot and fired.

His last thought as the bullet slammed into his chest and everything went black was a desperate plea for Hosea to be OK.