“And he is right.” Came the calm, almost cold, reply to Claudia. “We're all gonna miss them boys but Elijah is right. 'T is the life of an outlaw. We all live and die by the gun.” He did not look at her but instead kept his eyes to his bowl and put another spoon in his mouth. For a few moments they sat there in silence, to each their own thoughts. More joined them around the cooking pot, amongst them the young and very pregnant miss Blackthorne. Ben had his own opinions on having pregnant women running with the gang but he kept them firmly to himself in case his words would grant him the wrath of said woman or her man. Especially when the man was John Mercer Blackthorne. Ben had seen what John had done to face of some stupid excuse of a man who had spoken ill of his wife. Not even his own mother would have recognized the poor fool when John was done with him.
 
And even though Ben Masters did not have a mother anymore, he still was very fond of his own face. 

His eyes rested on miss Blackthorne's belly and he wondered how it would work out to be on the run, with how things were now, with a newborn baby among them. But those were worries for the parents and perhaps Elijah but Ben knew their leader would find a way to make it work. He always did. 

He turned his eyes away to see Gus and Elijah walking over and joining the little breakfast menagerie they were having. Ben listened attentively to Elijah's words, nodding as he spoke or replying with a grunt. The thought of there being a rat in the gang angered Ben, it was something that had crossed his mind also but he could not think who could have the stones to rat them out to the Pinkertons. If Ben would ever find out if it was true and who had done it, they would not find enough left of that person to bury. He also had his ways.

Gus wanted to go into town to get drunk as usual, Annabelle needed supplies and the rest of the girls wanted some time away from it all, which Ben could not blame them for. Most of all he had wanted to go out and rob a coach or something similar, you know, to take the edge of but when Elijah ordered him to keep an eye on the girls, his mood went down a slight. He did not feel like playing the chaperone but he agreed.

“Alright, boss. Jus' need to get my shootin' iron and get myself ready to go. I'm sure the wagon will be ready by the time i'm back.” At that last part he nodded at Gus with a grin. On his way to his tent, he passed Peter who was still adjusting his belt.

“So finally awake from yer beauty sleep eh?” Ben laughed. Peter was a survivor, much like Ben, having lost his family at a young age and having to fend for himself. Ben could relate to that and he gladly took him with on jobs or when needing the extra gun.

By the time he had gone to his tent and put on his vest, hat, belt and holster and went back, Annabelle was already hooking her horse to the wagon. Ben looked to see if he saw Gus but heard Annabelle ask Pete if he wanted to come with. “The more the merrier I'd say. An extra pair of eyes and ears is always good to have.” He said as he slapped Peter's back and continued in a softer tone: “These women are quite the handful.”

He chuckled and walked towards the wagon. “Well then, boys and girls.” He lifted his hand in the air, pointing his index finger up and turned it around

“Saddle up and let's go! We are burning daylight!”