The Story Of Red Dead Redemption

Chapter 65: Returning to Camp

Before leaving, Arthur promised Malloy that he would give him more money. In Arthur's eyes, Malloy was a man who loved money. But to Arthur's surprise, Malloy refused.

"Mr. Morgan, this isn't how you maintain a partnership. Helping you this time was just a small part of my role in our arrangement."

"What I'm about to say, you can take as an old man's advice, shared from experience. If we want to keep this partnership good, sustainable, and low-key, money is important. Too little won't work, but too much… that's no good either."

Malloy seemed like a different person as he spoke—no longer the scheming figure Arthur was used to, but more like an elder offering wisdom. He continued,

"Human desire is endless. Unfortunately, I realized this too late. Remember, there will always be someone willing to pay more than you. It's unfortunate, but desire can never be satisfied. Feeding it only makes it grow."

Malloy spoke with great seriousness, but as soon as he finished, he reverted to his usual self, adding with a grin.

"But don't think I won't raise my rates the next time you need my help."

Arthur took the lesson to heart. He nodded sincerely.

"Thank you for sharing that with me. I'll remember it. Next time I come, I'll bring you some good coffee beans."

Malloy smiled, clearly pleased with Arthur's response. For some reason, though, Malloy's thoughts drifted to Moira. Perhaps, back then, neither of them had imagined things would end the way they did.

"I'll head out now. If there's any new information, we'll be in touch," Arthur said, bidding Malloy a genuine farewell before leaving the sheriff's office.

Arthur took a moment to organize all the information he had gathered so far.

Now that he had a clearer picture of the situation, even though he wasn't entirely sure what the Pinkertons were planning, he knew he couldn't just sit around waiting for them to make their move. He had to act.

He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was almost noon—the time he had promised to take Mary out for lunch. He knew that if he stood her up, Mary would likely start speculating about his absence. But Arthur didn't have a choice.

A significant threat loomed over him.

His mind was consumed with thoughts of the Pinkertons, how the camp would handle the situation, and how he would explain everything to Dutch…

All these matters pressed on him, urging him to return to camp as soon as possible.

Moreover, Arthur was deeply concerned about the others in the camp. What if, at this critical moment, they went out and caused more trouble? Worse yet, what if they stumbled into trouble involving the Pinkertons?

Arthur didn't dare dwell on it.

So, the question remained: woman or brothers?

In the end, Arthur made his way to the Saints Hotel.

After feeding Boadicea her favorite oat cakes, he mounted his horse and left Valentine at full speed, heading straight for Horseshoe Overlook.

***

"Hey, Arthur! You're back," Uncle called out as Arthur approached. It was rare to see Uncle sober and on guard duty in the woods at this hour.

But Arthur didn't have time to stop and share a smoke with him. He simply nodded at Uncle and rode straight into the camp.

Inside, Davey, Hosea, and Lenny were sitting at a table playing cards. When they saw Arthur return, they greeted him warmly.

"Where's Dutch?" Arthur asked, scanning the camp. He didn't see Dutch anywhere.

"Did something happen? Dutch and John went into Valentine. Said they were looking for work," Hosea said, setting down his cards and standing up.

Arthur didn't waste time. He told Hosea about the Pinkertons being in Valentine and looking for them. Lenny and Davey also put down their cards, listening intently.

"Did you run into them on your way back? Dutch and John just left not long ago… So, what's the situation? Do we need to move camp immediately?" Hosea asked calmly, seeking more details.

Arthur thought for a moment before replying.

"We'll wait for Dutch to decide, but I think we should move as soon as possible. For now, everyone should stay in camp and stay alert. That's the most important thing. No one should go out and cause trouble—just stay put. As for the specifics, we'll need to discuss it with Dutch."

Arthur emphasized "stay in camp" twice. When it came to whether or not to move, he hadn't forgotten that Dutch was the one who made the final decisions. Arthur could only offer suggestions. This was also why Arthur had struggled to make significant changes within the gang.

Arthur still trusted Dutch. Everyone trusted Dutch. He was the one who had brought them all together to survive. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that any opposition to Dutch could be seen as betrayal—though that might be a bit dramatic. But that was the reality.

"Either way, should I go find Dutch and bring them back? If the Pinkertons are in town, they might run into trouble," Lenny suggested.

Arthur thought it over but shook his head.

"Let's wait for them to return. Like Hosea said, Dutch and John are just looking for work. Even if they find something, they won't act immediately. Besides, the town is safe for now—I just came from there. The Pinkertons only have rumors of our activity in Valentine. Until they have solid proof, we're still safe."

Davey, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

"Just rumors, huh? I've been lying around so long I'm getting stiff. I could use some action."

Arthur rolled his eyes internally. Davey had clearly been resting for too long. His first reaction to hearing about the Pinkertons was to want a fight. Arthur didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.

But he couldn't blame Davey. The man was a skilled gunman, and Arthur knew that most self-proclaimed gunslingers in the West never thought they'd actually get into trouble—until it was too late. It was a common flaw among "sharpshooters."

"Enough of that. You've just recovered. Stop thinking about picking fights," Hosea scolded Davey sternly.

"Arthur, Charles and Javier aren't in camp right now. If you say the town is safe for now, don't just wait around here. Go find them and bring them back," Hosea said seriously.

With the Pinkertons in Valentine, there was no telling if they were nearby as well. Hosea wanted to gather everyone back to camp for safety, then decide the next steps once Dutch returned.

Arthur had no objections to Hosea's suggestion. After asking where Charles and Javier had gone, he turned to fetch his horse.

Lenny followed, offering to go with Arthur. Since it was Lenny and not John, Arthur didn't think much of it and agreed. The two of them left Horseshoe Overlook together.

***

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