A Few Days Later

"Whatcha doin' there?" (Y/n) asked Annebeth as the little girl made a lump of snow that was about as tall as she was. "Making a snowman." She said, patting the snow. "Oh! How come Jack isn’t helping you?" (Y/n) asked, curious why the young boy wasn't playing with Annebeth. "He wanted to see his pa." She replied. "Aw I'm sorry. Maybe I can help you?" (Y/n) asked. "Okay!" Annebeth said, excited, and the two began to build the snowman.

Afterwhile, they had the body made and (y/n) finished with the head. She started to find some rocks and sticks for the eyes and arms for the snowman. Little did she know was that Annebeth was sneaking up behind her, a snowball clutched in her little hands. After (y/n) picks up two sticks, she stands up when Annebeth throws the snowball and it hits (y/n).

(Y/n) jumped from shock at this then she turns to see Annebeth giggling and smiling. "Alright, missy! Come here!" (Y/n) said and she chases after the little girl, who squeals with laughter as she runs away from her mother. She chases the little girl around a bit until she grabs her and picks her up, then spins around as the little girl squeals and giggles.

(Y/n) goes and kisses Annebeth's cheeks when they heard some voices far off. (Y/n) looks over and sees Bill leaving with his horse then Dutch, Hosea and Arthur talking as Javier, Charles, Micah and Lenny mount up their horses. (Y/n) noted that Hosea looked a bit upset as he talked to Dutch before he shouted at the men to mount up and head out.

Hosea looked put-out with it as he walked away and Dutch and the others left. "What's going on?" (Y/n) asked Hosea as she sets Annebeth down on her feet and walks up to him. "Oh, they're going after that train. Which is owned by Leviticus Cornwall." Hosea said. "Cornwall? Isn't he one of the richest and most powerful men in this country?" (Y/n) asked him. She remembered reading about Cornwall in the papers some time ago.

"Yes and I've warned Dutch that he is a man not to be messed with but...well..." Hosea said as he shrugs his shoulders. "But I thought the plan was to lie low for a bit then head out west?" (Y/n) asked, confused. "I thought it was too. But Dutch wants to get this money before Colm O'Driscoll gets it." He replied and (y/n) sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose and closes her eyes for a moment before she turns to him.

"So...what are we supposed to do now?" She asked him. "I guess we'll have to wait for them to come back and see what the plan is. But, I'm sure we'll be leaving here soon. The weather has lifted, so it should be easier for us to get off of this mountain." Hosea said.

About an hour or two had passed and Dutch, Bill, Lenny, Javier and Micah returned and Dutch told everyone they robbed the train and got some money. It was also time for them to pack and get ready to head out. Arthur, after having to deal with the train and some of passengers, returned to see everyone already packed up and get ready to leave.

"So we getting out of this hellhole?" Arthur asked Dutch and Hosea as he dismounts his horse and walks up to them. "We're gonna try. Weather seems stable." Dutch said. "And we just robbed a Leviticus Cornwall train." Hosea snarks at him. "We got money in our pockets, the worst is behind us, gentlemen. So the question is where now?" Dutch said as everyone loaded up the last bit of luggage in the wagons.

"I know this country alittle. I told you, we should set up camp in Horseshoe Overlook near Valentine. We'll be able to hide out there no problem as long as we keep our noses clean." Hosea tells them. "Well then, let's go! Clean noses and everything else!" Dutch said as John was loaded up in the wagon.

"Arthur, you're in that one." Dutch orders as he points at one of the wagons. "Bring Hosea, I know you two like to talk about the good ol' days and what's gone wrong with ol' Dutch." He grumbles as Hosea and Arthur roll their eyes and get up on their wagons.

As they started to leave, Annebeth looks out towards her snowman and said. "Goodbye, snowman!" And she waves at it. "Did you build that snowman, Annebeth?" Miss Grimshaw asked with a smile. "Yeah, me and momma did." Annebeth exclaimed, happily. "Yeah, until she threw some snow at me." (Y/n) said and Annebeth giggles, mischievously, while Grimshaw, Mary-Beth, Tilly and Karen laugh too.

A few hours later, they were off of the mountains and Dutch told Micah and Lenny to scout ahead to make sure there were no surprises on the way. The gang continued on until they made their way across the stream when Arthur and Hosea's wagon went through and one of the wheel falls off.

"Shit." Arthur growls and the others stop for a moment. "Alright, let's go take a look." Hosea tells him and they start to get off of their wagon. "Everything alright back there?" Bill called out. "Does everything look alright?!" Arthur growled back at him. "Well, what's going on?" Javier asked. "I broke the damn wheel!" Arthur exclaims and Charles gets off of the wagon and goes to help them.

"Need help?" Javier asked. "I reckon we can handle it." Hosea tells then and everyone heads off to the new camp as Arthur, Hosea and Charles fix the wagon wheel and get back on the path.

The gang finally made it to Horseshoe Overlook and they start to unload and unpack their stuff to make the area their new home. Arthur, Hosea and Charles finally made it back and Dutch turns and smiles at them. "You weren't wrong, Hosea. This place is perfect!" Dutch exclaims as Arthur, Charles and Hosea get off of their wagon.

"I hope so." Hosea said as he and Arthur walk over to Dutch. "Gentlemen, we have survived!" Dutch said. "For now." Hosea added. "Now it is time to prosper." Dutch said as a few people go to their wagon and unload it.

"Arthur and I were about to prosper in Blackwater. We were onto something big. Then Micah got you all excited about that ferry and...here we are." Hosea said as Dutch sits in a chair next to their little table. "We have all made mistakes over the years, Hosea. Every last one of us." Dutch said as he stands up to Hosea. "But I kept us together. Kept us alive, kept the nooses off our neck." Dutch said and he walks over to his tent, Hosea and Arthur following close behind him.

"I guess I'm just worried. I ain't got that long, Dutch. I want folks safe before I go." Hosea tells him as he places a hand on Dutch's shoulder. "Me too." Dutch said. "And now we are stuck, east of the grizzlies and out of money! A-And a long way from our dream of virgin land in the west." said Hosea. 

"I know, my brother. But we are safe! We make a bit of money here, then we move again. Head out around them, be west of Uncle Sam and in a few months buy some land!" Dutch explains. "I hope so." Hosea said, somber. "Would you look around you? This world has its consolation." Dutch said as he holds his arms out, like he was presenting a beautiful art piece.

"Gentlemen, I'm going to head into the local town and, uh...you know...see if I can strike up a little bit of business." Strauss said with a chuckle. "Of course, Herr Strauss." Dutch said and Strauss walks away. "I prefer robbing banks to usury...seems more dignified somehow." Dutch mutters to Arthur and Hosea before he turns around and goes to stand in the middle of camp.

"Now everyone put your tools down for a moment. Gather around. Quickly now!" Dutch calls out and everyone stops and gathers in a crowd. "I know that things have been tough, but we are safe now and we are far too poor. So it is time for everyone to get to work." Dutch tells them. "Get to work but stay outta trouble. Remember we are itinerant workers." Hosea said.

"Laid off when they shut down our factory to the north. Now, get out there and see what you can find. Uncle, Reverend Swanson...no more passengers." Dutch said and everyone chuckles at this. "It is time for everyone to earn their keep!" Dutch tells them, firmly.

"There's a town little way down the track name of Valentine, livestock town. All mud and morons if I remember right. That seems a decent place to start." Hosea explains. "And...we need food...real food and that means every day, one of you." Pearson said then Dutch goes into his tent and holds up a lockbox.

"And remember, whatever it is you find...the camp gets its slice. Now be sensible out there." Dutch tells them and everyone nods then dispersed as they go finish up unpack and put up their tents.

After Grimshaw showed Arthur his tent, he noticed that (y/n) was looking through one of the wagons, like she was searching for something. He finishes up his cigarette then tossed it aside before he goes up to her.

"Damn it. Where is it?" She mutters under breath as she looks through a box. "Whatcha looking for?" Arthur asked her and she turns to him, surprised. "Hey, Arthur. I'm...I'm looking for Annebeth's stuffed bear." She said. "Her stuffed bear?" He said, confused.

"Yeah, it's...it was the last gift my mother and father gave her." (Y/N) said and Arthur starts to understand. "I just hope I didn't leave it back in the mountains." She said, worried. "I'll help ya." Arthur said and (y/n) looks at him then smiles. "Thank you, Arthur." She said, appreciatively.

The two dug around some bags, suitcases and boxes in the wagon when Arthur opened up a case and saw a brown stuffed bear. He smirks a bit then picks it up and turns to (y/n). "Is this it?" He asked and (y/n) faces him then smiled.

"Yes, that's it!" She said and he hands it to her. "Thank you so much." (Y/n) said once they walk away from the wagon and towards her tent. "Did you find him?" Annebeth asked as she looks up at the adults. (Y/n) smiles at her then holds up the teddy bear and Annebeth squeals with happiness.

"You found him! Thank you! Thank you!" She said as she takes the bear and hugs it. "Well, thank Arthur. He was the one who found him." (Y/n) said and Annebeth smiles up at Arthur. "Thank you, Uncle Arthur." She said. "You're welcome, sweetheart." Arthur said and Annebeth runs off over to Jack.

"Now you're her favorite person." (Y/n) teased and Arthur snorts out a laugh. "Poor kid." He jokes and she chuckles. "I know it's quite dreadful, isn't it?" She said, sarcastically, and the two laugh. "Thanks again, Arthur." She said. "You're welcome." He said and (y/n) smiles a bit before she leans up and kisses his cheek.

Arthur was taken surprised by this and felt his face turn red as he looks down at her. “I mean it, Arthur. Thank you. You’re a good man. I dunno what I’d do without ya?” (y/n) said as she gives a smile to him. “I’m no good, (y/n). ‘M just doing what I can do to help, that’s all.” Arthur mumbled. "Well, since I've known you, you've been nothing but good to me and Annebeth. I just...I appreciate it." She said and he raises an eyebrow at her.

She pats his shoulder then said. "I'm gonna finish unpacking." She turns to her tent and he starts to walk away but stops and turns back to her. "Any way I can help ya?" He asked and she turns to face him. "You keep helping me this much, folks'll talk." She said and Arthur smirks. "Let 'em talk." He said, which makes her smile, as he walks back to her and helps her unpack.