"It really is a terrible plan. But I can't convince Dutch.
Honestly, the Blackwater job was already bad enough.
We planned from the start not to rob anything we were supposed to scam a land developer instead."
Completely unaware of what was going through Mike Walker's mind, Hosea grumbled with a weary sigh.
"Longer railroads, more civilization… the world is changing.
To the federal government, even to ordinary people we're no different from the O'Driscoll gang anymore."
Mike's voice was calm but firm.
Hearing this, Hosea's expression became complicated.
He knew everything Mike said was true.
Accepting it, however… that was the difficult part.
After all, he had spent his whole life lying, stealing, and running.
"But Dutch won't accept it…" Hosea finally muttered.
As one of the original founders of the Van der Linde gang, he had known Dutch for twenty-one years.
He understood his old friend's personality better than anyone.
"So… Mac, what are you planning to do?" Hosea frowned, unable to guess Mike's intentions.
"I want to try to convince Dutch to give up the train job," Mike said calmly.
It wasn't a lie.
At this stage, Mike had no intention of breaking away and forming his own group.
They were still trapped high in the snow-covered mountains.
Turning on Dutch now would be suicide.
Davey Callander was injured.
John Marston one of the key people Mike intended to recruit, was also injured.
And worst of all…
Dutch's reputation hadn't taken its second major blow yet.
Right now, even if Mike openly opposed Dutch's plan, almost no one would back him.
Leaving on his own?
After leaving the mountains, yes he could take Davey and leave the gang together.
But forming a new outfit with just one injured man? Impossible.
Mike needed allies people who would stand by him in the future.
And Hosea…
Hosea was irreplaceable.
Emotionally. Strategically. Politically.
Mike didn't want Hosea, a man who only wished for the gang to retire peacefully to die like in the game…
shot down in front of the bank in Saint Denis.
To Arthur Morgan, Hosea was both a father and a mentor.
And as a founding member, what he said carried enormous weight.
If Hosea backed him, Mike would already be halfway to success.
But Hosea shook his head.
"Dutch won't listen."
He had already argued with Dutch earlier and been shut down.
"We still have to try," Mike insisted.
"This concerns our future. The Blackwater job failed. We're already being watched.
And the tools for the train robbery… we stole them from the O'Driscolls."
Mike didn't finish the sentence, but Hosea understood instantly.
The more he thought about it, the more disastrous their situation looked.
$150,000 dollars.
In this era, a fortune beyond imagination.
A common worker made less than $10 a week.
Forget the Blackwater police, the Pinkertons and bounty hunters alone were enough to bury them.
And the O'Driscolls were already their mortal enemies.
If they angered Cornwall on top of everything else…
It would be a catastrophe.
Especially something as flashy and loud as robbing a train.
"So, Mac… what do you want to do?" Hosea asked, finally sounding supportive.
"With just the two of us, we can't change Dutch's mind.
We need more people to understand how bad our situation is.
Then we talk to Dutch, the whole gang, together and discuss our future seriously.
Everything we do must be for our safety."
Mike looked him straight in the eyes.
Hosea slowly nodded.
"Yes… you're right."
If one man's voice wasn't enough to sway Dutch…
Maybe the voice of the entire gang would be.
After all, this was for the good of the whole group.
They couldn't survive another disaster like Blackwater.
"I'll go talk to Charles and the others," Hosea said.
"As for Bill, Javier, and Micah Bell don't involve them yet."
As a seasoned veteran, Hosea knew everyone's temperament well.
Bill, who only wanted to prove himself…
Javier, Dutch's loyal follower…
And Micah Bell, a born outlaw…
Those three would absolutely support the train job.
After all, the Blackwater robbery idea originally came from them.
To stop Dutch, they needed to work through everyone else.
"I'll go speak with Davey, and with John and Abigail," Mike said.
And so the plan began.