Mark finished reading the poster, then handed it of to Bob as he uttered out to Nate seriously. "We are not a gang." Scoffing, Nathan retorted flatly. "Ya, well that poster says otherwise, Sheriff. I hope you have a plan because it's going to be hard to get my revenge if we're all swinging from a rope." Mark shot him a glare that Nathan returned, until Sean interjected softly. "I don't understand... Why are you so scared of them?" Nathan huffed, snapping out firmly. "I'm not scared of those bastards." Mark kept his glare on Nate long enough to tell him darkly. "You should be." Nathan turned dark eyes on Mark, but Mark looked to Sean with a lighter expression and voice when he informed him. "The Pinkerton Detective Agency. They are a private law enforcement organization. They are contracted by the government to help in the detection and prosecution of those guilty of violating federal law. They range from armed escorts, to hired gunslingers, to bounty hunters, to spies. Lawmen like me are not very fond of them. Our power is restricted to our county, or state. Pinkertons operate without that restriction and in doing so tend to rob us of our power and authority in their pursuits."

Nathan chimed in then as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Pinkertons are known for their brutality and persistence. We call them the agents that never sleep, because once they are hired to find you... they don't rest until they have you. Often outlaws caught by them never make it to prison. They practically invented the phrase 'Frontier Justice.' Preferring to stir up lynch mobs, vigilantes, and other gunslingers into helping them just get rid of the problem. Keeps their hands clean in the government's eyes, while the people get the justice they desire. Keeps the Pinkertons in good graces with the people enough to fill their pockets with more money." Mark nodded sadly, adding reluctantly. "He's not wrong. In most areas, the Pinkertons hold more sway with the people then the Sheriffs of their town, or even the Marshals of their state. Even more frightening. They aren't afraid to hire the people that the government doesn't approve of in order to get information. Women mostly from what I hear." Sean tensed, looking around at everyone when he blurted out. "The government allows them to run wild like that? Why?!" Mark slowly turned his head to look at Nate.

Nathan shifted on his feet, looking away with a stony look and a clenched jaw. Mark pointed at Nate, calmly telling Sean. "Because of outlaws like him. The government wants order. Men like him put that at risk. Dishing out their own set of justice. It makes people feel unsafe and that puts pressure on the government to protect its people from men like him. The Pinkertons are a quick and easy solution to that problem. They hunt down the outlaws quickly and bury the problem. The fear of them scares future outlaws from rising. Problem solved." Sean raised an eyebrow, asking nervously. "But then what happens to the Pinkertons when they have no one left to hunt down?" Mark honestly shrugged. While Nathan huffed sarcastically, blurting out smugly. "Same thing that happens to everything the government makes quick solutions to. They will no doubt become the next generation of outlaws. Because it's hard to muzzle and cage a dog that's tasted blood and had a sense of absolute freedom." Mark narrowed his eyes up at Nate, stating out flatly. "You don't know that."

Nathan lazily looked at Mark, glaring from under the brim of his hat when he growled out. "Don't I? Ask the Indians what they think of the government. They helped the pilgrims survive in this land and look what happened when the government was done with them. They are hunted like criminals and called savages for their ways... Does that sound like the same government that made a truce with them and traded with them? Only to starve them out and murder their families to steal their land for the gold beneath it. Ya... where would I get an idea like that." Mark bowed his head in silence. Nathan pushed the brim of his hat up, adding promptly. "That's not counting the Chinese and Koreans working in the mines. Or the Irish that are slaving away in the steel mills. Or the African slaves in the south that are building the railway. All immigrants that the government forces to work in-" Bob stepped between them, blurting out firmly. "Alright. Enough of that. We get it. Let's calm down before we start turning on each other." Nathan exhaled loudly through his nose but obeyed. Taking the poster from Wade, Sean looked it over as he broke the silence falling around them. "Nothing in this world is perfect. You two can fight all day and it won't change anything. You are both two sides of the same flawed coin."

Wade took a seat by Sean, chuckling out softly. "Must be one shoddy looking coin." Bob chuckled, then cleared his throat when both Mark and Nate scowled at him. Straightening up to his full height, Bob told everyone with a more composed voice. "Look. Sean is right. We can fight all day about it, but it doesn't change the fact that we have Pinkertons after us. We can't stay here forever and if we plan to bring the Marshal and the Mayor to justice. We've got to work together. Whether we like it or not." Mark nodded, lifting his head to look at Wade when he asked coolly. "Wade, how many bullets do we have left?" Wade winced, shifting uncomfortably when he answered. "Not many. A handful for the rifles and less then that for our pistols." Bob then slipped in gently. "We don't have any money on us either. So, we can't resupply in the next town." Nate gestured to Sean's clothes, adding softly. "He'll need to be outfitted if he's going to ride with us. He can't go around unarmed with one set of bloodied clothes. I doubt his horse is even geared for an overnight in the wilderness."

Sean straightened up, snapping out defensively. "I had stuff for it... at home." Nathan blinked without commenting, causing Sean to blush guiltily. Mark inhaled slowly, telling them coolly. "We'll ride into the next town, and I'll try to withdraw money from the bank there." Nathan laughed heartily, then pointed to the poster in Sean's hands as he stated out bluntly. "Mark, don't you get it? You're an outlaw now. The bank is never going to give you a CENT of your money. It belongs to them now." Mark swallowed nervously, practically sensing what Nathan was going to suggest. Kneeling, Nathan told him smugly. "Now if we need money... we can go to the bank and withdraw money. But you won't like how we have to do it." Mark sighed heavily but grumbled out under his breath without looking at Nate. "It's too dangerous. We've never done that." Nathan bit his lip, before telling him casually. "We've got time before the tribe reaches the next town. Between here and there is a train... We start training now. We can take her. If we get enough money from the train, then we can easily resupply in the next town and be prepared for a run in with the law."

Both Bob and Wade looked at Mark nervously, but Mark exhaled and told him seriously. "Seems my hands are tired, Nate. We'll do it... but we'll do it my way." Nathan smirked, standing up as he told them all confidently. "Get some rest, boys. In the morning, we'll see what you can do." Nathan then walked over to his bearskin bed and laid down on the other side of Sean. Adjusting his hat to cover his face. When they all began to settle down for the night, Sean showed Mark the poster and grumbled out softly. "They got my name wrong..." Smirking, Mark told him coolly. "Don't worry too much about it." Folding the paper, Sean laid down and tried to fall back asleep. Eventually, the noise from the bonfire outside ended. Letting the calm peaceful sounds of the night take over. From the sounds of the river and crickets to the shuffling of horses and wild dogs wondering around the camp. It wasn't until Sean heard quiet moans that he turned over and opened his eyes. Immediately regretting it. Nathan wasn't alone under his bearskin blanket. Nathan hadn't noticed him because his head was buried against the neck of Hawk-Claw, his kisses intoxicating to watch as he lined Hawk-Claw's throat with them. Sean even saw Nate graze his teeth over the vein, his voice coming out in a deep low growl that gave Sean goosebumps.

Hawk-Claw smirked through a moan when he noticed Sean watching but wasn't bothered by him doing so. Sean tried to roll over or close his eyes, but he couldn't. He was both curious and shocked. He'd never seen men together. Hawk-Claw ran a hand down Nathan's bare back, causing Sean's breath to catch in his throat when he saw the old scars of lashes. Nathan had been whipped? Nathan moved over Hawk-Claw a bit faster, causing Hawk-Claw to dig his nails into the sides of Nathan's ribs with a soft hiss. Nathan briefly stopped kissing Hawk-Claw's neck, his steady breathing turning into heavy bursts over Hawk-Claw's shoulder. Sean watched as Hawk-Claw's legs rose until his legs were wrapped firmly around Nate's waist, no longer hidden under the blanket. Sean couldn't breathe as he watched Nathan's bare hips thrusting between Hawk-Claw's legs, but Hawk-Claw's flexing muscular thighs blocked him from seeing what Nathan was really doing. A deep shuddering moan left Nate, prompting Hawk-Claw to whisper something into Nathan's ear. Nathan's fingers clawed into the fur beneath them, his arm flexing hard, before he thrusted in one last time. Hawk-Claw arched under him, biting Nathan's shoulder to suppress the sharp moan that tried to escape him.

Sean's heart leapt as they reached clear bliss. He felt so dirty watching them but still couldn't look away. His heart ached to be touched the way Nate touched Hawk-Claw. Nathan laid over Hawk-Claw panting heavily, while Hawk-Claw stroked him so lovingly in a way that tried to help him relax his muscles. He even ran a hand through Nathan's loose hair, whispering to him blissfully. "Feeling better?" Nathan hummed sleepily against his throat, making Hawk-Claw smile. For a bit they just laid like that and Sean sleepy looked on with longing. When it was clear that Nathan was asleep, Hawk-Claw eased himself out from under him without waking him. Covering Nate with the blanket, he ran one last hand through Nathan's loose hair before slipping silently from the teepee and into the dark. Sean expected Hawk-Claw to say something to him about watching them, but he didn't. Taking one last look at Nathan, Sean smirked to himself. Nathan looked so much younger when he slept. So peaceful. Sean started to close his eyes, until Nathan's soft whine drew him back.

Nathan was still asleep, but his fingers jerked and clawed at the fur. Sliding his hand out to close the space between them. Sean put his hand on Nathan's to try and calm him before he ripped the thick hair from the leather. The second his hand touched his, Nathan's hand relaxed and he sleepily breathed out. "Eomma..." Sean curled his hand in Nate's, holding it lightly as Nathan squeezed it tight. In that moment, Sean wondered what Nathan had said. He had never asked if Nathan could speak another language. There was still so much he didn't know about Nathan, but the pain he'd heard in his voice was clear enough when he'd said it. Letting Nathan hold onto his hand, Sean closed his eyes and forced himself to go back to sleep. Just before dawn, Sean jerked back awake to the sound of horses snorting and trotting through the camp. Sitting up, he was about to alert the others, when he noticed Nathan was standing just outside the open teepee and waving to someone. As the group of riders moved on, Nathan glanced back in at him and asked soft enough not to wake the others. "Wanna bath?"

Sean started to shake his head, but upon inspecting himself, he nodded. His shirt and leg were caked in blood. Walking in, Nathan took his hand and helped him up. Letting him lean on him, Nathan walked him outside toward the edge of the river. He could tell why Nathan had brought up bathing. Nathan smelled like sweat and Hawk-Claw. The outside was light enough to see but the sky was still so grey. Sitting on the river edge, Sean removed his shirt and tried to clean it in the river. Sean did his best not to watch Nathan strip. He even avoided him after he waded into the water. After Nathan dived into the water and came back up, Sean asked without looking at him. "Nate? Can I ask you something?" Nathan hummed distantly as he bathed. Biting his lip, Sean eased out curiously. "What does 'Omma' mean?" Nathan spit water, processing how he said it, before absently answering. "Depends. Where did you hear it?" Sean shrugged, lying lightly. "Someone in town. What does it mean to you?" Nathan chuckled, answering boldly. "Sounds Korean. Means mom." Nathan splashed his face, then froze as he let it sink in.

Nathan turned his dark eyes on him, and Sean shifted uneasily as he tried to rub the stain from his shirt a bit faster. Brushing his wet bangs away from his eyes, Nathan moved closer to Sean in the water and asked with an unreadable expression. "Why would you ask what it means to me...?" Sean shrugged, mumbling out nervously. "No reason. You should put some clothes on before someone sees you." Crossing his arms, Nathan retorted casually. "Why? Are you afraid they'll do something to me?" Sean shook his head, stammering out guiltily. "No. I just... You shouldn't..." Tugging the shirt from Sean's hands, Nathan chuckled out in a sudden tasing voice. "Or are you afraid that YOU'LL do something to me?" Scooting back from him, Sean limped up onto his feet and strained out. "No! I wouldn't!" Nathan chuckled to himself, then held up the shirt and told him reluctantly. "Don't waste your time. You'll never get these stains out." Wringing out the shirt, Nathan tossed it back to him and asked him curiously. "What you heard last night. Was it before or after Hawk-Claw left?"

Sean was so stressed that he didn't process that it was a trap, until he blurted out. "After." Sean tensed, turning a bright red, but Nathan just chuckled to himself. Climbing out of the river, Nathan told Sean coolly. "Keep what you saw and heard to yourself. Now put your shirt back on and follow me. Let's see what you can do, Farm-boy." To Be Continued...