The Story Of Red Dead Redemption

Chapter 30: Wrapping Up

Arthur asked the clinic owner where he could wash his hands. The owner, now fearful of Arthur, obediently pointed to a water bucket outside.

As Arthur scrubbed the stains from his hands, he pondered the information he had just extracted about Sheriff Malloy, his mind wandering.

"What are you daydreaming about, Arthur?"

"Oh, Dutch, Hosea, you're back. How did it go on your end?"

Dutch, looking pleased, said, "Perfectly. Under my leadership, we remain an efficient team. Ha! Dealing with the O'Driscolls was a piece of cake. So, Arthur, can you tell us your plan now?"

Hosea, somewhat dissatisfied, added, "You owe us a good explanation. Why did my suggestion of keeping a low profile turn into an all-out war with the O'Driscolls in Valentine?"

Arthur wiped his hands on his clothes and led the two through the back door into the clinic's secret room. The O'Driscoll gang's money box was still on the table, along with some scattered cash.

Sitting down, Arthur watched as Dutch and Hosea lit their cigarettes, rolling his eyes at their smoking habits. He coughed lightly and said,

"Let me think where to begin. First, the Valentine sheriff is someone we can use, as you already know. Since we plan to stay here for a while, being close to Valentine will be beneficial for supplies, information, and money. Having the sheriff on our side will make things safer for us, no matter what we plan to do."

"The Blackwater incident is still headline news, and the authorities' bounty could reach us at any time. Those persistent Pinkertons could show up anytime. I don't want us to be caught off guard again."

Mentioning the Blackwater failure, Dutch's expression soured. He exhaled a smoke ring.

"I've said it many times. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's not bring it up again."

Seeing Dutch's displeasure, Hosea interjected, "Arthur, your concerns are valid. Extra preparation is always good. We don't know how long we'll be here. But is this how you plan to win over the sheriff? By dealing with the O'Driscolls? Arthur, this might only earn his favor if he doesn't know our identity. You might be wasting your time."

Sighing, Hosea continued, "Once he learns who we are, he won't protect us. We have nothing to hold over him."

Arthur agreed with Hosea but had his own plan and wasn't ready to reveal it yet.

"You're right, but we only plan to hide here for a while. Pleasing the sheriff will make our stay easier and doesn't conflict with our original plan. It's just an extra insurance policy before our identity is exposed."

Dutch nodded in agreement, and they returned to discussing the current situation.

"The O'Driscolls are locked up in the police station. The two small cells are almost full. The deputy is watching them, so they won't cause any trouble. They're pretty beaten up." Looking at the bound O'Driscoll member, Dutch continued, "Given his state, I assume you found out where our Sheriff Malloy is?"

"Yes, Malloy wasn't captured. He went with them voluntarily. The destination is unclear to these people. I'll keep an eye on it. For now, should we return to camp or spend the night in town? Our friend, the hotel manager, is on our side. Although his place was trashed, I'm sure he'd let us stay."

Considering it was late and the journey back to camp would be in the dark, Arthur suggested staying in town.

However, both Dutch and Hosea declined. Hosea said he didn't feel comfortable leaving Lenny alone at camp, and Dutch preferred the natural environment and the company of the gang. He didn't like city beds. They would ask others if they wanted to stay the night.

"Do you really not need our help?"

"No, everyone's been busy all night. There's plenty to do back at camp. You'll have your hands full," Arthur said, pushing the O'Driscoll money box towards Hosea.

"Take this back and share the money with the others. Oh, and another thing, I ran into Trelawny in town. He had news about Sean."

Hearing about Sean, both Dutch and Hosea became excited. Hosea asked, "Is Sean alive? Did Trelawny find him?"

"In Blackwater, he was captured by bounty hunters but is currently not in danger. They haven't agreed on a price with the authorities."

Dutch's excitement faded, and he looked serious. "That's not good. If we step into Blackwater, it's certain death. There are Pinkertons everywhere. But since Sean is still alive, he's one of us, and we have to try to rescue him."

Seeing Dutch's determination to rescue Sean despite the risks, Arthur felt a deep sense of approval.

"Dutch, they want you the most."

Unfazed, Dutch stood up and walked over to the bound O'Driscoll member.

"It's always like this..." He then shot the O'Driscoll member in the head and continued, "I'll send Charles to scout Blackwater first."

Arthur and Hosea agreed with sending Charles to investigate. Charles was skilled and could handle himself even if he didn't get any information. The dead O'Driscoll member was of no concern; he knew too much.

After Dutch and Hosea left, Arthur pondered his next move. Watching Kieran and the clinic owner clean the blood stains from the walls and floor, Arthur thought about turning the place into a gambling venue. It was spacious, hidden, and secure with two specially designed iron doors.

He planned to convert some rooms in the hotel into high-end gambling areas. The clinic would be an open gambling venue, while the hotel would be invitation-only, catering to wealthy clients.

Arthur was focused on making money. He believed Sheriff Malloy was safe. Despite knowing him for a short time, Arthur trusted Malloy's survival instincts and the information from the dead O'Driscoll member. Malloy wouldn't risk his life unnecessarily.

Arthur wasn't worried about him. He had fulfilled his promise. Any further dealings with the O'Driscolls could wait until Malloy returned. With their strong force, Arthur was confident they could handle any situation.

***

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