The Aftermath 4/5

Frank pulls down the shade then hobbles over towards the table. Jesse is sitting down as Mary wrings her hands. "There's gotta be another way," Frank says. Jesse says this is their only chance since they don't have horses and Frank won't be running away any time soon. Mary finally processes the situation but asks to verify that the brothers will kill her if the bounty hunters try to stop the James brothers. Jesse assures her that the situation won't escalate to that level, but Mary is not consoled by the formality. "But I liked you," she weeps. Frank is still not keen on having a hostage and tells his brother no. Jesse is finally annoyed with this distraction and shoves Mary into a closet. Hehe.

Charles and Jonathan are inside the mill trying to hatch a plan that will allow Charles to get to Mary. Jonathan is trying to present Charles with all of the options on the table, but Ingalls is determined to do things his way. It's go time. Charles climbs out the wheel window and lowers himself into the water. Jonathan is playing lookout as Charles maneuvers his way through the water under the bridge. He hides in some grass when he notices a posse member on the bridge. Jonathan notices this and starts to cross the bridge. He tells the guard "I feel asleep" and some other nonsense, allowing Charles to silently swim by. The guard doesn't notice.

Back at the hideout, Frank is keeping watch outside. He looks over at his brother and tells him the first rule of hostage taking: "A hostage is no good unless you're willing to kill that hostage. Are you willing to do that?" Jesse doesn't even flinch.

Meanwhile, the town meeting is in session. Reverend Alden informs the crowd that the posse intends to kill the James brothers if they are found. One man objects, stating that the brothers won't get a fair trial anyway, so he is going to tell the posse and collect the reward. Jonathan blocks the exit and shares the update about Mary being held hostage. How does he know that? All he knows is that Mary went to visit the brothers. The man decides to back down, but not before saying that he is against not telling the posse the info they want. Jonathan tells Mr. Ford to listen to him. Oh, of course he's Bobby's father. Thanks, show.

Anyway, the crowd is on Garvey's side since Mary's life may be at stake. Reverend Alden silences the crowd and says that he will only support actions that protect Mary. As he calls for everyone to be united in their efforts, the Reverend notices Broder's silhouette puffing a cigar. Broder turns the corner and tells Alden to finish his statement. The Reverend icily reminds Broder that this meeting is being held in a church, so ix nay on the oking smay. Broder puts out his cigar on the floor (classy), then recaps all the information he has so far. He goes on to say that half of the $5000 reward will go to the person who tells him where the hideout is. He passes around the newspaper to see if there are any takers.

A soaked and semi-shirtless Charles runs up to the porch of the hideout. Before Charles reaches the steps, Jesse steps outside with his gun pulled. Charles asks about Mary and then tries to reason with Jesse in an effort to let her go. Charles proposes an exchange but Jesse decides to keep both of them as hostages. Charles Ingalls still sucks at negotiations.