Chapter - 15
"Boys, have I got something for us. We're going to strike it rich, I tell you. Strike it rich!" Koen declared, pacing in front of Jacob, Nathan, and Jonah. The men exchanged curious glances between each other.
Jacob crossed his arms, leaning against a tree. "Alright, Koen, what's this grand plan of yours?"
Koen's eyes sparkled with excitement as he began, "I've got word from a particularly disgruntled railroad employee about the Transcontinental Express. It's a luxury train, known for carrying wealthy passengers, valuable cargo, and large shipments of gold and cash. It's the mother lode, boys, and it's passing through here."
Jacob's eyes widened in disbelief. "You aren't serious about this, are you?" he said, stepping closer to Koen and spreading his hands. "Come on, Koen, you're talking about robbing a damn train. And with what, four men? That's insane."
Nathan, always loyal to Koen, shot Jacob a sharp look. "Oi, why you doubting the boss? He must have a plan for this, that's why he's telling us."
Jonah, usually more cautious, nodded in agreement with Jacob. "Ah, I'm with the runt on this one, boss," he said, pointing at Jacob. "He's got a point. It's going to be mighty difficult to rob a heavily guarded train with just four men."
Koen held up a hand. "Have I ever let you down? I'm not about to start now. Here's the deal: I've got the exact time and date the train's going to pass through the Rocky Mountains, where they can't get any help if we stop the train. I've also got details about the train's security and layout. And, I've got a man ready to disable the train's telegraph system beforehand for a few dollars."
Jacob raised an eyebrow, his skepticism softening. "That's quite the setup. Still, it's a massive risk, Koen."
Koen stepped closer to Jacob. "Our whole life is full of risks, Jacob. But if we pull this off, we won't just get by—we'll be set for life."
The gravity of Koen's words settled over the group. Jacob, Nathan, and Jonah exchanged looks, weighing the potential rewards against the undeniable dangers.
Koen clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "Boys, we've got three weeks to get a plan together, gather supplies, and prepare for this heist. We need to be precise and efficient. This isn't a job for amateurs, but I believe we can do it."
Nathan grinned, "I'm in, boss. Let's do this."
Jonah nodded slowly. "If you believe we can pull it off, Koen, then I'm with you."
Jacob took a deep breath, the thought of Eliza briefly crossing his mind as he thought about the risks. "Alright, Koen. Let's make this happen."
--
"At least tell me what's wrong, Eliza. You've been crying ever since you came, and it's tearing my heart apart," Jacob said, his voice filled with concern as he hugged an inconsolable Eliza.
Eliza sobbed in his arms, her face buried in his chest. Jacob could feel the wetness of her tears soaking through his shirt. She cried for what felt like an eternity, her pain palpable and raw. Finally, she began to calm down, her sobs turning into quiet sniffles. Tears streaked down her face as she lifted her head to look up at Jacob, her eyes red and swollen.
"It's... it's father, Jacob," she managed to say between hiccups. "He's trying to set up my marriage. He says he doesn't want me to end up with you and is going to wed me off to someone else."
Jacob's heart sank, and a wave of fury surged through him. How dare her father try to take away the woman he loved? He cupped her face, wiping away the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "Eliza, listen to me. No one, and I mean no one on this earth, can take you away from me. You're mine, and I'm yours, forever."
"But Jacob, what about father? What can I do? He's already got someone in mind."
"We'll think of something, don't you worry," Jacob reassured her, his mind racing with possibilities.
Over the next few days, Jacob's thoughts were consumed by the situation. He knew Eliza's father would never agree to their marriage. The only solution he could see was for them to run away together. But this plan was fraught with complications. Jacob was an outlaw, and he had kept this part of his life hidden from Eliza. If they were to run away, he couldn't let her know about his criminal past.
Then there was the matter of Koen and the gang. Jacob had spent the last five years with them, and they were like family to him. He knew they wouldn't let him leave without a fight, and he couldn't expose Eliza to that danger.
But the most urgent issue on Jacob's mind was money. He needed a substantial sum to build a new life with Eliza, yet his savings were barely enough to cover the basics. Despite cutting ties with his old life, he couldn't shake the lingering sense of responsibility toward his aunt and cousins, especially Lily. It was why, even after joining the gang, Jacob regularly sent a portion of his earnings to his aunt under an anonymous name. It wasn't much, but Jacob hoped it helped them.
Now, though, Jacob needed more than scraps. If he wanted to secure a future with Eliza, he'd have to find a way to come up with a significant amount, fast.
As the days passed, Jacob grew more desperate. He spent sleepless nights pondering their predicament, trying to find a way out. The day of the train heist loomed closer, and Jacob knew this was his chance. If he could get enough cash and gold from the train, he could take Eliza and disappear to a different part of the country, leaving his outlaw days behind.
But this plan came with a heavy price. It meant betraying the men he had come to think of as brothers. The thought of betraying Koen and the gang tore at his conscience, but the love he felt for Eliza was stronger.
The night before the heist, Jacob lay awake, staring at the ceiling of his tent. The soft sounds of the camp surrounded him: the occasional murmur of conversation, the crackling of the fire. He knew he had to make a choice, and that choice would define the rest of his life.