"How're you, son?" Hosea approached Ellis on an early morning a week after they arrived. Ellis had just finished doing his chores, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he thanked Hosea for handing him a mug of water.

"Good, good," Ellis nodded. "Hands a lot better," he showed off the scars around his wrist. "Any idea where Arthur snuck off to?"

"He went out to find Reverend Swanson, again," Hosea shook his head in disappointment. "Never mind that," Hosea shook his head, patting Ellis' shoulder. "Tell me, you've been avoiding going into town."

Ellis laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You know why," Ellis finally sighed when Hosea didn't let up. "My mam always said my old man would come back one day, and I'm just hopin' that by not going I won't bump into him."

"Well, if he is, avoid him," Hosea shrugged as if it was that simple. "Your girl and her friends are dying to go into town, and we need supplies, and take uncle with you too!" He yelled as he walked off.

Ellis sighed, knowing that it was unavoidable. Quickly heading towards his tent, Ellis changed his white shirt into a black one and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, before putting his hat back on and heading towards where Uncle was sleeping against a tree.

"Working hard or hardly working?" Ellis asked, waking the older man from his nap.

"Working hard, like always," Uncle nodded, getting to his feet.

"Does it pay well?" Ellis asked sarcastically.

"Eventually," Uncle shrugged. Ellis put his hand on Uncle's shoulder and started walking with him.

"So, while the rest of us are busy... stealing, killing, lying... fighting to try and survive... you get to think all day?" Ellis asked, an amused expression on his face as they stopped just short of the horses.

"It's a strange world we live in, Sue Jenkins."

"I told you-" Ellis sighed, cutting himself off. "Do you wanna head into town... see if we can find anything out?"

"Sure, I got some errands to run," Uncle nodded.

"Great..." Ellis pointed to the horses. "Go check the horses are ready," Uncle walked towards the horses as Karen approached Ellis.

"If you're gonna take the old man into town... could you take us too?" Karen asked him, motioning towards Mary-Beth and Tilly.

"Of course, I was just about to come and get you," Ellis smiled. "MB's been moaning in my ear all week, and not the good kind," Mary-Beth smacked him, blushing furiously as the two other girls laughed. "Are you sure Miss Grimshaw can spare you?"

""Can Miss Grimshaw spare us?"" Karen shook her head in disbelief. "You've changed, Ellis Jenkins, three young ladies ask you take them robbing and you're worried about that old witch?"

"She's a scary lady," Ellis chuckled, remembering when he was fourteen and rode back into camp with Arthur and John after robbing a Stagecoach where all three of their horses bucked them off into the mud. "But fair enough, you got me."

Ellis helped the three women into the wagon before a voice called out to him.

"Ellis?" Molly asked.

"Yes, Miss O'Shea?" Ellis asked, giving her his full attention. Not many in camp liked Molly, she was a High Society lady from Ireland who thought chores were beneath her because of her status and being the partner to their leader, but Molly had always been nice to Ellis.

"Are you heading into town?" Ellis nodded. "Would you look for a pocket mirror for me? Please?"

"Sure, I'll take a look around," Ellis nodded, and Molly looked relieved as she thanked him. "Would you like to join us, Miss O'Shea?"

Molly glanced at the wagon that sat the three girls and Uncle before politely declining, thanking Ellis before walking off.

"Why'd you invite her, Ellis?" Tilly asked as Ellis snapped the reigns, the wagon pulling off from camp.

"She's part of the gang," Ellis shrugged, as if it was obvious.

"She's a snob," Karen mumbled.

Mary-Beth quietly played with her fingers when she heard Karen's words. She didn't like Molly much neither, but she knew Ellis and Molly got on, much to her displeasure, but she knew deep down that Ellis was a good man. A good, faithful man.

"Ladies, sing us a song," Uncle said, trying desperately to break the awkward tension in the air.

"I got a girl in Berryville... can't be screwed 'cause she's too damn ill. So I don't go down there no more..." the ladies began singing, just as Uncle began to give Ellis directions.

"I was born here, you half-wit," Ellis told him, getting a punch in the knee for good message.

"...There's a blue horse lays outside her door. I got a girl in Valentine... likes to drink that fancy wine. Plumes in her hat was two feet tall... the crack in her pants paid for it all. I got a girl in Berryville. Can't get it in her cause she won't stay still. She kicks and squeals and farts and hollers. Won't take less than seven dollars."

"I messed it up," Karen laughed.

"Look at that coach, he's... he's all over the place," Uncle pointed out a stagecoach going haywire in front of them. The horses on the coach in front of them disconnect from the cart, going in different directions, forcing the coach to stop.

"Is one of you gonna get that feller's horse?" Tilly asked the two men up front.

"Oh, I got lumbago, it's very serious!" Ellis sighed at Uncle's excuse, stopping beside the stagecoach and getting off.

"You alright there, friend?" Ellis asked the driver tending to one of the horses.

"Oh hey, you couldn't help me get my other horse back from over there, could you?" He pointed over the other side of the road.

"Sure, no problem."

"Thanks mister. It's the white one over there," Ellis nodded, walking over to the white horse slowly, his hands outstretched in front of him to calm the horse down while the ladies cheer him on.

Once he successfully managed to calm it down, he grabbed the reigns and led the horse back to the man.

"Yes! That's my man!" Mary-Beth cheered, clapping her hands together.

"Here... here you go," Ellis handed the reigns to the man, blushing furiously at Mary-Beth's words.

"You're a gentleman, sir, a gentleman!"

"No, not really... I was just.... trying to impress the women," Ellis added in a hushed whisper.

"You're turning into a regular old fairy godmother there, Ellis," Uncle joked when Ellis got back on the wagon.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've got a heart," Mary-Beth said, standing up and wrapped her arms around Ellis' shoulders from behind, placing a kiss to his cheek. "A large one too, Mr. Romantic," she chuckled before turning towards Uncle. "And you haven't you repulsive old lizard."

"Lizards have hearts!" Uncle said in offence as Ellis laughed. Mary-Beth kissed his cheek again before sitting back down.

"Well, Ellis, I'm proud of you," Tilly said.

"To be honest, if you lot hadn't been here... I probably woulda robbed him," Ellis smirked over his shoulder at the ladies, getting a small whack from Mary-Beth.

"Smell those sheep," Tilly whistled lowly as they rode into town.

"Or is that Uncle?" Karen joked.

"This looks like a decent little town," Mary-Beth commented as they rode into the Main Street of the town.

"Yeah, decent," Ellis muttered under his breath. After riding a little longer, Ellis parked the wagon beside the stable and walked around to help the ladies off;

"Alright! Here we are, just like I said," said Uncle, rubbing his hands together. "The cultural center of civilisation. Man at his finest."

"Uncle, what're we doing?" Ellis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well, we're gonna do what any self-respecting maniac does... put the women to work."

"With pleasure... we'll start at the saloon," said Karen, motioning for the ladies to follow her.

"Okay, just stay outta trouble and don't get yourselves noticed," Ellis shouted after them.

"Right, I-I need to get something from the stores," said Uncle.

"Okay, well we'll see you at the general store when you're done," Ellis told the girls, sitting on a bench outside the store, tipping his hat to cover his eyes.

"Come on ladies... Imagine we're in Paris," Karen motioned them forward again.

"I imagine Valentine and Paris are easily confused," Tilly nodded sarcastically.

Awhile later, Uncle exited the shop with a bottle of whiskey and offers it to Ellis.

"Here's to your good health, my sir," Uncle roars him.

"Knowing my luck I won't see twenty two," Ellis rolled his eyes, taking a swig from the bottle and handing it back.

"It's a funny world. This time in my career..." Uncle began one of his stories, and Ellis felt his eyes grow heavy. "I pictured myself being married to an heiress..." Ellis fell asleep woke back up to Mary-Beth walking towards the two.

"Ellis, honey. I think I've got something good," Mary-Beth smiled, shaking Ellis slightly. He stood from the bench, taking her around the corner and out of the way of prying eyes. "I snuck into this fancy house... and acted like a servant girl... usually works. Someone was saying her sister was taking a trip... from New York or someplace. Train full of rich tourists, heading to Saint Denis... and then cruising off to Brazil."

"Go on," Ellis urged her on, his hand idly stroking her waist.

"A train laden with baggage and... passing through a bit of deserted country at night... as to get to the docks in time for the tides... in some place called Scarlett Meadows."

"Yeah, I know it... yeah, yeah, it's near New Hanover," Ellis nodded, kissing her forehead. "We camped out there that one time after robbing that Sheriff in Rhodes."

"We were about eleven then," Mary-Beth giggled.

"Good work, darling," Ellis praised her, kissing her cheek. "I'll let Dutch know. Where's Tilly and Karen?"

"I think at the hotel... they were picking up some drunken fellers... that they was gonna rob," Mary-Beth looked around but didn't see either of them. "They have been gone for quite a while."

Ellis walked her back to where Uncle was sat, promising to go find them they spot Tilly, who appeared to be in a fight with another man near the hotel.

"Excuse me," Ellis said to her before walking up to the side of the hotel.

"Get your hands off me!" Tilly told the man.

"You thought I wouldn't find you, Tilly?" The stranger asked her.

"You can go kiss a damn snake for all I care... get off me! Get off of me!"

"Get your hands off of her," Ellis said coldly, taking his revolver out and pointing it at the stranger. The man stops fighting, but still had Tilly against the wall.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"A friend of mine..." Tilly smirked arrogantly.

"Get the hell off of her, you son of a bitch," Ellis growled, taking a threatening step forward. "I don't miss."

The stranger lets go of Tilly, who rushes behind Ellis, "Hey... hey... take it easy. There's no problem here."

"There will be if you don't get outta here right now," said Ellis. The stranger grumbled and walked away, letting Ellis holster his gun. "Go wait with Uncle and Mary-Beth, they're across the street. I'll get Karen," Ellis told her.

"Okay, thanks Ellis."

Ellis left the alleyway and went down the street to the Saints Hotel to look for Karen.

"Can I help you, sir?" The owner asked as Ellis walked in. The outlaw ignored him, sending him a threatening look to keep quiet as he walked up the stairs, hearing Karen's screams.

"Get off of me!" Ellis heard her scream from inside 2B.

"I'm getting what I paid for!" Ellis kicked the door open as the stranger said that.

"Hey!" He yelled, standing threateningly in the doorway.

"Who are you?" The drunken stranger asked drunkenly.

"A friend of hers," Ellis growled, getting into a fighting stance. He saw the bruise forming on Karen's face and her split lip.

"Get outta here, buddy, I paid!" The stranger yelled and Ellis had enough. Winding his fist back, he swung at the man and knocked him clean out, sending the man face first to the floor. "Ain't paid to hit her, you goddamn animal!" Ellis spat on him before turning to the blonde. "You okay?"

"Yeah..." Karen mumbled, flinching when Ellis raised his hand to inspect her bruise.

"You sure?" Ellis asked, knowing that Karen was usually one to keep her emotions quiet.

"Yeah. Nothing... nothing to worry about, just... men," Karen mumbled bitterly, "but... stupid bastard... stupid bastard was boasting about the bank."

"Good find, Karen," Ellis smiled, and Karen returned it with a small one. "It's a livestock town, as long as they had a good winter and harvest, there'll be a lot of cash."

"I hope, uh, everything's okay up there?" The hotel owner asked when they walked downstairs.

"For your troubles," Ellis nodded at him, placing five dollars on the counter.

"Thank you, Ellis," Karen said when they got outside, gently squeezing his arm. "I don't much like being saved, but... when I have to be."

"I understand," he nodded with a reassuring smile. They walked across the street to Uncle, Mary-Beth, and Tilly.

"You okay?" Tilly asked.

"Sure, he only punched me," Karen nodded with a smile. "Ellis punched him a lot harder."

Just then, Mary-Beth noticed someone, "Hey, who's that guy over there looking at us?"Ellis turned around to see a man on a horse staring at them.

"Weren't you in Blackwater a few weeks back?" The stranger asked him.

"Me? No, sir. I'm Valentine born and raised," Ellis lied through his teeth, suddenly getting anxious.

"Oh, you were. Well, I definitely saw you," the man pointed at him. "With a bunch of fellers."

"Me? No. Impossible," Ellis started walking toward the man. "Listen, mate. Come here for a minute."

"I saw you..." the man turned his horse around and accelerated away from the others.

"Motherfucker!" Ellis groaned, turning towards Uncle. "Go get the girls home. I'm gonna go have a word with our friend," Ellis began running after the man, climbing onto a strangers horse and taking off after the stranger.

"Hey! That's my horse!"

"Just borrowing it...!" Ellis yelled back at him. Ellis chased the man through the fields while occasionally calling out to the man to get him to stop. The man eventually arrived near a cliff overlooking the Dakota River. He frantically tried to stop his horse before he falls over, but the horse bucked him off and ended up dangling over the cliff.

"Well aren't you in a bit of a panic," Ellis smirked in amusement, kneeling down to be closer to the man.

"You have to help me!"

"Why are you telling lies about me, friend?" Ellis asked.

"No, no! I-I-I got it wrong partner... I got it very wrong, now please, help me up!" The stranger begged, barely holding on.

"I ain't never been in Blackwater..." Ellis said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "I'm a Valentine boy, born and raised."

"Then why are you chasing me?" The stranger sobbed.

"I've got an unfortunate face," Ellis shrugged, offering the man his hand. "Alright... come on..." Ellis helped him up. "You okay, mate?"

"No... no, I am not," the stranger sighed. The man got up, out of breath. "I'm a mess," the man held out his hand and introduced himself. "Jimmy Brooks."

"Billy Bonney," Ellis shook his hand. "I think it's best for both of us... if we pretend this never happened."

"Oh, I agree," Jimmy Brooks sighed in relief. "You saved my life. You're a good man and I, err... Here... you want a pen? It's one of them steel ones."

Ellis inspected. Knowing Mary-Beth liked her steel pens, he nodded, thanking Jimmy.

"Oh... that's very kind of you. But I'm not a good man, Jimmy Brooks..." Ellis nodded, putting it into his satchel. "Jimmy Brooks... I will remember that. I've got a good memory."