Arthur was a decent fellow.

  Perhaps it was the mutual respect between experts, or maybe it was because Stephen had thoroughly taught that Micah a lesson, but the two hearty men quickly became acquainted.

  "Maybe when the weather gets better, we should head down the mountain and find a saloon to have a good drink," Stephen said, an arm slung around Arthur's shoulders, the two of them looking like old friends.

  "Sure, but it's on you. That knife of yours last night was something else; my neck still hurts," Arthur replied, a bandage wrapped around his neck, with a hint of red seeping through.

  "You weren't bad yourself, taking a chunk out of my arm with a single shot," Stephen said, holding up his arm. Both men burst into hearty laughter again.

  The friendship of men could sometimes be this simple.

  Just as their conversation gradually shifted from who was more formidable to slightly more risqué topics, the sound of what seemed like an argument came from a nearby cabin.

  Curious, they looked over, and just as they reached the door, a man in a black coat and red undershirt, along with several others, stormed out in a rage.

  As he walked, he cursed at the men behind him, "All you two damned fools know how to beat up your own, when it’s Colm O'Driscoll who deserves it. You think we can just sit here and wait for him to find us? We have important business to take care of, let's move out!"

  No sooner had he spoken than he spotted Arthur, shoulder to shoulder with Stephen. He addressed Arthur directly, "We have to find Colm and take care of this scum."

  "Are you sure, Dutch? At a time like this? Everyone's exhausted; we need to find a place for everyone to settle down first," Arthur said, looking at the imposing Dutch, without explaining to Stephen, he shouted with some concern.

  "But he's coming for us; we all know that. I don't want to get ambushed in the wilderness," Dutch said firmly, grabbing Arthur's shoulder, questioning in a low voice: "Are you doubting me, Arthur? You don't trust me anymore?"

  Arthur hurriedly explained that he trusted Dutch, of course. It could be said that no one present trusted Dutch more than he did.

  But precisely at this moment, he didn't think it was a good opportunity: "You said revenge is a luxury we can't afford..."

  "But this is a good opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. And it's not just revenge; it's a business deal. They're planning a train robbery, and I'm very interested in that plan."

  Dutch grabbed his lever-action rifle and tossed it to Arthur: "You might not mind eking out a living stepping in horse piss and dog shit, but I'm getting old, Arthur."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "So, you guys are planning to go after the O'Driscoll gang?" Stephen asked, listening with confusion, but quickly grasping the important point.

  "That's right, kid. If you're willing, you can come along with us. After all, you beat one of our guys so badly he's laid up in bed," Dutch said, looking at the gloomy-faced Stephen: "I think you'd be very willing to settle the score with that Colm bastard."

  A night had passed, and Dutch naturally knew everything. So he was very interested in this strong young man who had a grudge against Colm.

  "Of course, with pleasure," Stephen said, taking the reins of his white horse, appearing eager to get started.

  Arthur looked at the situation and knew that he couldn't stop it, so he sighed and mounted his horse.

  "Mr. Mathews, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pearson, you stay here, Colm's men are nearby. The rest of you, follow me! Giddy up!!"

  Dutch loudly ordered his men, and with his command, the white horse beneath him instantly bolted forward.

  It was worth mentioning that the horse under him was also a white steed, seemingly on par with Stephen's.

  Besides Arthur and Stephen, three other people followed.

  Dutch and Arthur were arguing incessantly in front, and Stephen wasn't interested in listening. He only cared about Colm and the O'Driscoll gang's heads.

  "Hey, you tied me up in the snow last night, nearly froze me to death. A-choo--"

  A young black man rode up beside Stephen, sneezing as he said with some admiration, "I saw what that Micah guy looked like; I have to say, you did a good job. Of course, it would have been better if you'd let me go sooner."

  This young man was named Lenny; they had met last night.

  Last night, Stephen was stopped by Mrs. Sadie, and then the gang surrounded them. After a lot of explanation, everyone finally understood what had happened.

  As a result, it wasn't until almost dawn that everyone realized they were missing someone. Stephen then remembered that there was one unlucky guy still tied up behind the cabin.

  "Man, I'm really sorry. After we get down the mountain, I'll buy you a drink. You can drink as much as you want; it's on me," Stephen said apologetically.

  Regardless, the guy had saved Mrs. Sadie, and he had left him out in the snow all night. He really felt bad for the kid.

  At this moment, a fat man came forward and said, "You knocked me out with one punch last night; I think you should buy me a drink too."

  This guy was named Bill; he had just rushed out with a gun last night when Stephen, who was passing by, knocked him out with a single punch.

  "Don't worry, there's enough for everyone. I'll buy you all enough to drink," Stephen said generously, causing the two guys to cheer, saying that the beating was worth it.

  Stephen looked at these two simple guys and couldn't help but shake his head.

  This was a gang that seemed atypical but was actually very typical.

  It seemed atypical because the gang's leader, Dutch, seemed to be a man with ideals. He took in women and was willing to help people, and he also seemed to be somewhat cultured.

  It seemed typical, however, because the gang was filled with the shadow of fist-based supremacy.

  Arthur was very powerful, second only to Dutch in the gang. Mrs. Sadie said that Micah, who he had crippled last night, was able to stay safely in the gang despite so many people's disgust because Dutch valued his marksmanship.

  And from the looks of it, everyone had no reaction to him attacking Micah, which was not normal at all. So there was only one possibility: this guy was just too disgusting.

  "Hello, I'm Javier. Nice to meet you," the last person also came up to greet Stephen.

  A small mustache and long hair made this guy look refined and somewhat artistic.

  "I have to say, you did a good job last night," he said, smiling at Stephen, then whispered.

  Okay, another Micah hater...