Many members of the gang were curious, some even surprised by Mike Walker's bold confrontation with Dutch.
But whatever questions they had quickly faded as Mike painted out a chilling vision of the future.
Susan Grimshaw, Arthur Morgan, Hosea Matthews, and those who genuinely cared about the gang's well-being merely felt some worry; they didn't think too deeply about it.
Lenny, Karen, and Reverend Swanson people who rarely dwelled on the big picture also didn't sense anything unusual.
But Tilly and Mary-Beth, who loved reading and had always feared the consequences of gang robberies, exchanged equally worried looks.
Mike noticed every expression, even as he kept his own face unreadable.
His fierce stance against Dutch wasn't reckless, it was calculated.
He wasn't trying to break from the Van der Linde gang right this moment.
Instead, he needed the others to see one thing:
He could be strong.
Strength was a currency in outlaw life.
If Mike wanted to gather people under his banner someday, he couldn't remain silent or soft forever.
And strength only mattered if you could back it up which he could.
This confrontation was also a test.
He already knew that Charles, Sadie, Abigail, the Uncle, and his injured brother Davey Walker would likely stand with him.
But the more allies, the better.
Even those without combat skill had value.
As for Dutch's anger?
Mike wasn't concerned.
His argument was based entirely on the safety of the gang, and right now Dutch was not yet the unhinged fanatic who would later spark wars with the Army and the Native tribes.
Dutch might resent him, but Dutch would not act.
Not now.
Dutch needed to maintain the image he'd built of a visionary leader, superior to every other gang in the West.
And more importantly… the gang needed Mike's gun.
They simply couldn't afford to lose a fighter of his caliber.
Hosea quickly stepped in to soften the moment.
"Mike's concerns are reasonable. But the most important thing right now is getting out of here."
Hosea had known Dutch for years.
If this argument kept going, something worse might happen.
And truthfully, Hosea agreed with Mike far more than he would ever say openly.
Mike nodded, steering the discussion away from Dutch entirely:
"You're right, Hosea. And honestly, the Pinkertons aren't even our biggest problem yet. The O'Driscoll gang is. This whole region is their territory."
He wasn't lying.
In the O'Driscoll gang's eyes, Mike Walker and Davey Walker were both recognizable threats listed by name.
Before leaving the Van der Linde gang, Mike wanted to use Arthur and the others to chip away at Colm's power.
Grizzlies, Cumberland Forest, Valentine
all of New Hanover was crawling with O'Driscolls.
And unlike Dutch's crew, the O'Driscolls were structured like a classic Irish-immigrant outlaw syndicate: huge numbers, loose discipline, mean and vicious.
Many were useless drunks or people forced into the gang like Kieran Duffy…
But numbers alone were still a danger.
Dutch, who had been simmering with anger moments earlier, suddenly grew serious.
Cold, focused.
"You're right, Mike. About Colm, you're completely right."
"Maybe you don't yet understand my thinking with the train. But on the matter of dealing with Colm…" Dutch's eyes sharpened. "We cannot wait for him to strike us first."
His hatred for Colm O'Driscoll burned hotter than any insult Mike had thrown at him.
If Dutch wanted anything, it was to put a bullet in Colm's skull.
Mike nodded.
"I'll speak with that O'Driscoll Arthur dragged in. Maybe he knows something."
He had pushed Dutch enough for today.
The seed of doubt had already been planted.
Arguing further would only give Dutch the chance to win the crowd back with his practiced charisma.
Better to direct the gang's anger toward a mutual enemy, the O'Driscolls.
He and Davey had their own grudges with them anyway.
And if he planned to build a future in New Hanover after leaving the Van der Linde gang…
Crushing parts of the O'Driscoll gang now would make everything easier later.