Chapter 81: Arthur’s Confession
Valentine.
Arthur’s arrival took Davey by surprise. He hadn’t expected Arthur to invite him back to camp for Sean MacGuire’s homecoming celebration.
“Arthur, you know if I go, Dutch won’t take it well.”
“He really doesn’t want to see me right now.”
Davey’s first instinct was to refuse. If Dutch didn’t want to see him, then he had no desire to see Dutch either. Even if Dutch hadn’t yet become the man he’d eventually turn into, Davey already understood his true nature.
Arthur tried to persuade him. “Davey, you haven’t been back to camp in a long time. A lot of folks miss you.”
“Sean’s return is a rare chance for all of us to be together again.”
“If we miss this, we might not get another chance. After all, you’re not the same anymore, Davey.”
In Arthur’s eyes, Davey—now a man with legal papers—wasn’t a wanted criminal anymore. Staying too close to the gang would only bring him trouble.
“What’s different, Arthur? I’m still me, still your friend.”
“Don’t think I’ve turned into some respectable businessman. Bootlegging’s still illegal. If the United States gets the chance, they’ll throw me in a cell.”
“It’s just not as loud as robbery, that’s all.”
“You bastard… Fine. I’ll go with you.”
Davey never saw himself as a good man. In a place like the West, good men didn’t last long. What kind of saint made a living off moonshine? Just the other day, he’d threatened a federal revenue agent, and lately he’d been planning to replace Strawberry’s sheriff with someone more cooperative.
After changing into his cowboy clothes, Davey rode out with Arthur toward Horseshoe Overlook.
On the way, Arthur filled him in on recent events.
“You and Mac stopped doing debt collection. Strauss handed it over to me. The pay’s decent, but I hate the job.”
“Compared to honest robbery—with guns and fists—using the law to strip people of everything makes me sick.”
“Most who borrow from Strauss are desperate souls—pregnant maids, young lovers drowning in debt, and other poor fools too hopeless or naive to see they’re being cheated.”
“It’s a filthy business.”
“That preacher, Orville Swanson—the one Dutch saved—still drinks, gambles, nearly got himself killed by a train. Now he just drinks every day at camp. Damn man cost me a lot at the station tables.”
“Hosea’s the only one I enjoy working with. He met a black-market dealer named Seamus at Emerald Ranch. The man hired us to rob his own cousin.”
“We didn’t want to kill anyone. Hosea distracted the cousin while I searched the house. Found about a hundred and fifty bucks hidden in the chimney.”
“Oh, Davey, you’ll never believe what I saw when I came out—Hosea was giving the man a back rub. Looked like he knew exactly what he was doing. Makes you wonder what kind of work he used to have.”
“We got away quietly with the wagon. Smooth job. Working with Hosea’s always a good time.”
“The camp’s been in good spirits lately. That rat Micah—after we busted him out—didn’t even stay two days before taking off again. Said he had some big deal lined up, wanted to prove his worth to Dutch.”
“I hope he dies out there.”
After everything that had happened, Arthur’s view of Davey had changed. He could tell Davey had gotten smarter—no longer the same man who only knew how to rob and kill. It felt good to talk to him, to share what had been weighing on his mind.
Davey was a good listener, chiming in here and there. They laughed and talked all the way back to camp.
“Oh, if it isn’t our moonshine baron, Mr. Callander!”
“I figured a big shot like you would’ve forgotten all about us outlaws—probably couldn’t wait to cut ties completely. Never thought you’d show your face here again.”
“So tell me, bootlegger Davey Callander—are you here to throw a few scraps of charity at us poor wretches?”
The moment Dutch saw Davey, his voice turned sharp with mockery.
Everything at Horseshoe Overlook had been going well—except for Dutch’s bitterness toward Davey.
Without comparison, there’s no jealousy—and Davey’s success in the moonshine trade made Dutch’s own failures burn even more.
Davey stepped right up to him, unflinching. “Listen, Dutch. If you’re trying to make another enemy, congratulations—your plan’s working perfectly.”
Dutch’s face darkened. “Wasn’t it you who betrayed me first, Davey?”
Davey’s tone went cold. “So, in your eyes, trying to live a steadier life counts as betrayal, Dutch?”
“Or do you just want everyone to stay outlaws with you—running and hiding until the day we die?”
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