Abigail no longer wanted to wander and run with the gang. She was tired of this life on the move.
Before, she hadn't had a choice—but now she had Davey.
"Abigail, I've already left the gang once. I don't want to walk away again."
John hesitated before speaking.
The gang was in danger, and leaving at a time like this felt disloyal.
But Abigail didn't care about that.
"John, listen. It's not just the two of us anymore. We have a child—little Jack. I love him."
"You know I love you, John. If it were only you and me, I'd stay with you forever. But little Jack can't live like this."
"He needs a better life—a stable life. He needs to learn, to go to school, to read and write. He can't grow up knowing nothing like I did."
"Davey promised me he'd take good care of Jack. If we go to him, he won't mistreat us."
"Please, John. I'm begging you. Let's go together and build a quieter life. Little Jack can't grow up without a father."
John wavered at Abigail's sincerity.
He knew she was right—but the gang meant a great deal to him too.
Seeing John remain silent broke Abigail's heart. She understood that his silence was already an answer.
Just then, Hosea walked over.
"John, maybe you ought to listen to Abigail."
John looked stunned. "Hosea, you think I should leave with her too? But Dutch…"
Hosea shook his head.
"Forget Dutch, John. We're fugitives now—hunted murderers. Maybe we can live with that, but little Jack shouldn't have to."
"Abigail's right. He can't grow up without a father. You should go with them and take care of him."
"Davey made the right call back then. He was right—after we crossed Cornwall, keeping a low profile became impossible. More trouble will come, and that's not something little Jack should face."
"Go. Take Abigail and little Jack to Valentine. Find Davey. He'll arrange everything."
John looked lost, his head hanging.
To him, Hosea was like a true father—someone he respected even more than Dutch.
"All right, Hosea… I'll do it. I'll go tell Dutch."
Hosea stopped him.
"No need to tell Dutch, John. Just take Abigail and little Jack and leave."
"Seeing you now will only anger him."
"Slip away quietly. Don't tell anyone. Don't alarm anyone. Just like… last time."
Caught between Hosea's urging and Abigail's pleading eyes, John finally agreed.
...
Night settled in.
John rode with little Jack seated in front of him and Abigail holding on from behind.
They brought no luggage.
Just like that, the family left the camp.
Aside from Arthur and Charles—still out scouting—the others simply watched John and his family depart in silence.
They all knew that once John left this time, he wouldn't be coming back.
"Hosea, you're the one who convinced John to go. That kid—I know him. If he'd wanted to follow Davey, he would've left long ago."
Dutch lit a cigar and walked up beside Hosea, but there was no anger in him.
"Yes, Dutch. I told John to take Abigail and little Jack with him."
"It's all for little Jack. He's too young to keep living this gang life."
Hosea admitted it without hesitation.
Perhaps because it was about little Jack, Dutch—rarely—showed no frustration or accusations.
He sat beside Hosea and spoke quietly:
"Hosea, trust me. This will all pass."
"We'll find a new camp, shake Cornwall and the Pinkertons off our trail, and lie low for a while."
"The West—this wild place—sees robberies and killings every single day. It won't be long before we're forgotten, just like after we left the Caribbean."
"When things settle, we'll head to Blackwater and retrieve the money we hid. Then we'll go somewhere no one knows us—somewhere no one can find us."
"I've heard of Tahiti—a beautiful little island. We could buy some land, grow mangoes, live without running anymore. You could enjoy your old age in peace. Isn't that something, Hosea? Trust me."
Dutch's charisma—the same force that had held the Van der Linde Gang together for so many years—was unmistakable.
Even Hosea, who had been weighed down by doubt, felt lifted by Dutch's words, almost able to believe in that beautiful future.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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