Chapter 147: Colm’s Plan
Mattock Pond.
Scattered tents dotted the area, where a large number of O’Driscoll Gang members had gathered.
Colm had no idea that Old Gray had already sold out the location of his camp.
“Damn Van der Linde… what an infuriating bastard. But this time, you’re dying by my hand.”
Colm stood at the center of the camp, looking over his many men, a flash of cruelty in his eyes.
Unlike the Van der Linde Gang, the O’Driscoll Gang had numbers on their side. Anyone who could shoot, ride, and rob could join.
So even if a whole batch got themselves killed, Colm could quickly recruit another. The West never lacked young men hungry to make a name for themselves—and they made excellent disposable tools.
“Boss, word just came in. The Laramie Gang hit Emerald Ranch. Donal’s badly wounded and already back in Valentine.”
“The Callander brothers also showed up in Rhodes. Seems they’re looking to stir up trouble with the Braithwaite family.”
Hearing that, Colm snapped, “Useless Laramie! That idiot—couldn’t he just kill that traitor Donal for me? And now he’s still alive? One day, I’ll personally take his head.”
“And that kid too—Kieran Duffy.”
“The Callander brothers are in Rhodes as well. Not good. But our plan stays the same. They’ve left the Van der Linde Gang—no need to provoke them.”
“Our target is Dutch. If we can capture him and hand him over to the government, everything will get a whole lot easier.”
“Alright, gentlemen. Time to act according to plan.”
The Gray family had been working with the federal government, and through Old Gray’s connections, Colm had built his own ties with them—clearly involving deals not meant for outsiders to know.
But to Colm, Dutch was the man who killed his brother. No revenge was too extreme.
...
Clemens Point Camp.
Micah was telling Arthur, “While you, that old man, and Dutch kept running around making things worse for us, Pearson might’ve already eased some of the burden from everyone’s shoulders.”
Arthur clearly didn’t want to entertain him and replied half-heartedly, “Maybe.”
Just then, Dutch walked over.
Pearson quickly rushed up to him.
“Dutch, we can make peace—with the O’Driscoll Gang.”
“I think it’s doable.”
Dutch stared blankly at him. “What on earth are you talking about, Pearson?”
Pearson said, “Dutch, Micah and I ran into a few O’Driscoll boys on our way into town.”
“Looked like things were about to turn ugly… but you know me—I never back down in front of them. Like a tiger backed into a corner…”
Seeing Dutch about to walk off, Pearson hurriedly cut himself short. “Anyway, nothing happened in the end, but… we started talking.”
“They want to sit down and negotiate. Bury the hatchet—like gentlemen.”
The moment he heard that, Dutch said, “Gentlemen? Colm O’Driscoll?”
“Are you out of your mind, Pearson? And you too, Micah?”
Micah explained, “Dutch, you always tell us—do what needs to be done, but don’t get involved in pointless fights.”
Hearing the conversation, Hosea called out from a distance, “They want to negotiate? It’s a trap, for sure!”
Micah replied, “Of course it could be a trap. But what do we lose by taking a look?”
“If it is a trap, we kill them. We know where their camp is. If it’s not, then maybe—just maybe—we have a chance.”
Dutch shook his head. “I don’t see the point. I killed Colm’s brother a long time ago. And he… killed the woman I loved.”
“I’ve fought Colm for so many years, I can barely remember a time we weren’t at each other’s throats.”
Micah said, “Dutch, like you said—it was a long time ago. All of it. It’s been years, hasn’t it?”
“The Pinkerton is hunting us over Blackwater, and so is Leviticus Cornwall with his private guards.”
“And who knows when conflicts with these local hillbillies might flare up?”
“Can we really afford to burn our resources on all this? And now we have the O’Driscoll Gang on top of everything.”
“Our enemies are piling up, Dutch. I’m not hurting anyone—I’m saving people. Saving all of us.”
Dutch hesitated.
Because of Davey, he already knew the location of the O’Driscoll camp, but hadn’t attacked—afraid the noise would draw the two major families’ attention.
Now hearing that Colm wanted to negotiate, Dutch genuinely wanted to take a look.
“Alright, Micah. You and Pearson go back into town, find their people, and set a time and place.”
“Let’s hope they’re serious. If not, I’ll wipe every last one of them out.”
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