lol I don't know what I'm doing with this. All I know is that this idea won't leave my head and I need to get it out.

Haven't abandoned my other fics, just got a bad case of writer's block for them.


The Yawning Grave

Chapter One:

The Rescue

He looked down with narrowed eyes at the man bleeding out in the water. The body laid partially in the river, his head and arm bobbing up and down. The kid knelt down and looted four-hundred dollars and some ammo off the body and stuffed it into his satchel. Now all that was left was to get rid of the evidence.

The rain from the previous day swelled the river. With a hard shove, the rest of the old man's body rolled into the water and the strong currents took it away, pulling it under and sending it down river.

He looked down at the cattleman revolver that once belonged to his father before shoving it into his holster. It was over. Edgar Ross was dead and his family was avenged.

But why did he still feel empty inside?

Staring at the pool of blood where Ross had been, Jack began to wonder if this was worth it after all. He got what he'd wanted after spending years practicing shooting glass bottles and small game. He let his anger fester deep within himself while pretending he was okay on the surface for the sake of his mother. However, John Marston was still dead. Killing Edgar Ross had not fixed that and Jack still felt a hole in his heart.

This is a hell of a time to start having regrets. There ain't a reason I should have remorse now. This is justified, plain and simple. No, it's not gonna bring back my family, but I can rest easier knowing that Ross is rotting in hell.

Turning away from the scene, he looked over the area for his paint mare, Rain. Once he spotted her grazing by the road, he rushed to her and quickly climbed on. The horse gave a snort, annoyed that her rider interrupted her meal. Jack ignored her complaints and gave her a pat on the neck. He told her it was time to go, but as he looked around him, he didn't know where exactly he should to go. Should he travel deeper into Mexico or go back home to Beecher's Hope or maybe head north for a while?

He spurred his horse and galloped away, deciding anywhere would be better than "home".


Crisp, cool air filled Arthur's lungs and to his surprise, it didn't hurt. How long had it been since he could breathe deeply and not cough up blood? Months he supposed, but then... this wasn't right. Slowly, he opened his eyes and quickly shielded them as the sun's rays nearly blinded him. The trickling of a stream, birds singing, and an elk's piercing call were all around him. He lied against a cedar tree, thinking back to his last memory. Gunfire, John pushing him to keep going, Dutch, Micah.

His head ached as did the rest of his body. He hadn't felt this bad since he got drunk in Valentine with Lenny. Slowly, he opened his eyes again, this time the brightness did not assault them as hard as the first time.

Judging by his surroundings, he was close to Donner Falls, the same place where he found that crazed preacher talking to a god that would never answer him. The same creek where he encountered that man who was searching for the lost Princess. There was a time when Arthur himself tried finding her. He had a few theories as to who and where she could be, but they all led to dead ends. That wasn't his priority right now, though. Right now, he had to figure out how and why he was alive.

"I told you he wasn't dead," a soft feminine voice whispered.

"Who cares," another feminine, yet harsher voice, said back. "We got bigger problems than this guy."

"Maybe he can help us?"

"Help us?" the second voice scoffed. "He can barely help himself."

Arthur turned his head toward the voices. Two women stood to his right at a respectable distance. Both looked alike in many ways. Same height, same slender face, and sea-green eyes. The only difference between them was the color of their hair, the redhead's freckles, and the way they carried themselves. One was a dark red-head, and the other was a light brunette. Sisters, he'd guess.

The brunette glared at him with distrust, gripping her rifle tightly. She wore men's attire with a gray cattleman hat, a dirty white shirt, and dark blue pin-striped trousers with patches on the knees. The red-head wore a more feminine shirt with black riding pants and a pair of boots that were too big for her. Unlike the brunette, this woman was not used to wearing those kinds of clothes. Her face was flushed and her eyes wide as a scared rabbit's. This one wasn't the outdoorsmen type, unlike her brunette sister.

"What are you staring at?" the brunette growled.

Before he could answer her, the red-head gave her sister a light whack on the arm.

"Annie, behave!" she chided. She turned her attention to Arthur and said, "I'm sorry about my sister. She isn't the biggest fan of strangers. I'm Mabel Pike and this is Annie Pike. Are you all right? I didn't think you would make it."

How long was I layin' here? "I guess so. I... don't know what happened... I-" What could he say that was believable?

"At least you're okay now," Mabel said.

Using the cedar tree for support, he stood up, the dizzy feeling increasing. He wanted to lie back down, but he forced himself to stay standing.

"You don't look well, mister...?"

"Morgan. It's Arthur Morgan," he replied.

Annie gave a frustrated sigh and said, "We don't have time for this! Molly is still out there and she could be hurt real bad."

"If you have to go, then go. I'm not stopping you," Arthur replied. He could see the worry in Annie's cold eyes. He set aside his annoyance for the girl, knowing that her hostility was a mask to hide her true feelings. "Look, if you need help, I can lend a hand."

Annie was ready to protest when Mabel stepped in front of her. "Our sister is missing. Days ago, she went out to pick flowers. I guess she strayed too far because some outlaws found her and ran off with her. We tracked them down to this area but now we're lost. We' don't know this place very well. Could you please be our guide, Mister Morgan?"

He saw their eyes full of desperation and knew he couldn't turn them away.

"I know this area like the back of my hand. Come on, we'll find your sister." Of all the names... it had to be Molly.

"Thank you! I promise I'll find a way to repay you!" Mabel said.

Annie nodded.

Out of habit, he whistled for his horse, Ginger, but when he didn't hear the drum of hooves or her excited whinny, it was a painful reminder that she died. Thinking back to the last fight with the Pinkertons, he felt regret over leaving her behind, even if there was nothing more he could have done for her. He'd forever miss that gentle but tough mare.

After a few moments of silence, Mabel asked, "Where is your horse?"

"I lost her recently," he confessed. "I guess I'm still not used to it."

"You must borrow mine then," Mabel said. "Annie, can I ride with you?"

Annie rolled her eyes and gave a huff. "Fine, but I don't know why you're trusting him with Regal."

The sisters whistled for their horses and two sets of hoofbeats steadily approach the trio. A red chestnut Suffolk Punch and cremello gold Thoroughbred weaved through the trees and skidded down the slope to reach their riders. The Thoroughbred acted skittishly, not used to such rugged terrain. This one must be Regal, he thought.

Mabel took the reins of Regal and placed them in Arthur's hand. "I'm placing my horse in your care, Mister Morgan. I trust you won't run off with him?"

"I don't have a reason to."

"Let's go then," Annie said.

They mounted their horses and rode along an old trail with Arthur in the lead. Regal spooked often as Arthur navigated the horse through the forest. He found himself constantly reassuring the poor animal everything was okay, and it made him question why Mabel thought it was a good idea to take this dainty horse out onto such rugged terrain if it wasn't prepared for it.

"You ladies have any idea where she's at?" Arthur asked as they crossed the road.

"We got word there was a band of outlaws hiding out on an abandoned reservation," Mabel answered. "We've been running in circles for hours and I'm afraid it's too late."

"All we gotta do is try. Come on, I know where the reservation is." He spurred the horse as he took a right. "If you don't mind me askin', why ain't the proper authorities handlin' this?"

"'Cause the sheriff of Empire is a goddamn crook, that's why!" Annie growled.

"Language," Mabel warned.

Annie ignored her sister and continued. "Sheriff Grady, Mayor Brown, and Father O'Malley are as crooked as they come. All of 'em got the town under their thumb. Townsfolk are scared to even breathe wrong!"

"Where is Empire?"

They were getting closer.

"Empire, Ambarino is to the north of here, passed the Grizzlies. Was an Indian trading post, twenty-five years ago but since the whites took it over, they sent that tribe to Oklahoma. Sad business. Anyway, the outlaw gang in question are in with the sheriff. As long as they share a cut with Grady and Brown, they'll keep turnin' a blind eye to the criminal activities."

He wasn't surprised to hear this. Everywhere he went there was someone high up who abused their position of power in some way. Empire sounded like a place he wanted to avoid.

"We're gettin' close," Arthur said quietly. "Let's leave the horses in the trees. Ladies, you might want to wait here."

The sisters ignored him and withdrew their weapons, rushing past him and taking cover behind a rock. Their determination didn't surprise him but that red-head wouldn't last long in a fight. Maybe she'd use her common sense and stay back while he and Annie went after the girl.

Crouching down, he moved behind a rock opposite of the women with Granger's revolver ready. He glanced their way and watched as Annie withdrew three throwing knives. Arthur counted ten men as far as he could see. Who knows how many were on the other side.

All the bandits dressed in beige duster coats with black hats. He had never seen these men before. Must be a new gang, he thought. They would never last, though. Most didn't.

Annie looked in Arthur's direction with a look that said ready when you are. Arthur gave a nod, signaling for her to move. The dagger spun and sliced through the air, striking its target in the back of the neck. The outlaw groaned and fell forward, making a thud as he hit the ground. Arthur froze, waiting for the others to be alerted, but when two men standing by crates didn't react, he and Annie moved in with Mabel staying behind.

Annie drew the dagger from the man's neck before continuing towards the crates. She took the left and Arthur took the right. Swiftly and silently, they dealt with the outlaws and dragged them behind the crates, out of their comrades' line of sight.

"Which way now?" the girl whispered.

He motioned for her to follow him to the back of the house where only one guard stood. The bandit held a stick in his hand and cut away at the wood to pass the time whistling Oh My Darling, Clementine.

Another silent takedown.

They laid his body against the house and inched their way to the door. So far, so good.

"About goddamn time," one of the men in the house grumbled. "I never thought he'd shut the hell up. "

"So, what's the plan with the kid? Those sisters haven't paid up yet and Grady said two of the girls left home to find more money," another said.

"Don't know. The boss plans on killing her if they don't pay up but Jackson argued last night that we raise the kid ourselves. Said she could become useful."

"How is the snot nose brat gonna be useful?"

The first man chuckled and said, "I know a few ways."

Disgusted was an understatement as to how Arthur felt at that moment. He saw fury flash in Annie's eyes and before he could stop her, she was quick to her feet. She ran to the back door, kicked it open, and opened fire.

"You sick pieces of shit!" Annie roared.

The time for stealth was over.

He followed her into the house as gunfire erupted from the front. A man with a knife was inches from the young woman. She spun around to face him but froze. Arthur shot a hole in the bandit's head, killing him instantly.

"Come on, kid, we gotta finish this!" Arthur said, taking the girl by the arm.

She blinked and looked at the dead men at her feet and cringed. She thanked him and ran for one room where her sister was possibly being held.

"Molly, are you here?" Annie called out.

"Annie, is that you? Is Mabel with you?" a small child's voice cried.

Annie left the empty bedroom and stopped as two men rushed inside with shotguns. She killed the first man who entered, giving Arthur the second man to put a bullet into.

"Molly, don't move until we've dealt with the bad guys!" Annie ordered.

The child stayed silent as more bandits came running inside. One by one they fell as Annie and Arthur fought them off. He was right in that there were more people on the other side of the house. Annie defended the back door, leaving Arthur to handle the front of the house. He didn't keep count of the men he'd killed, but as most of the men fell to his gun, the rest of the bandits but two retreated into the trees.

"The Field Brothers will come for ya!" a man said with a laugh.

"We'll see about that, you son of a bitch!" Annie replied.

A large man with a thick beard aimed a shotgun at her face. Annie quickly moved away from the barrel and shot him between the eyes. He went down, crushing his friends' bodies beneath him. Another man with black hair tried grabbing her, but she dodged him and drove a knife halfway into his throat. When he didn't die as fast as she wanted, she shoved the barrel of her rifle under his chin and squeezed the trigger. She wasn't prepared for the gore that followed and turned pale. Arthur thought she'd grow sick, but she recovered quickly and joined him in the kitchen.

The way she fought those two men with such aggression reminded him of Sadie. Although, Annie didn't seem to get the same thrill from it as Mrs. Adler did.

"Is that all of them?" she asked as she pulled the knife from the man's throat.

He glanced outside then said, "Looks like it. Keep your guard up just in case."

"I know that."

"Can I come out now?" the child asked.

"Let us come to you." In a hushed voice to Arthur, she said, "I don't want her seeing the bodies."

Annie gently pushed open the door and found Molly hiding in the corner. The girl's clothing and face were dirty, her brown hair hung in her face, and she was missing a shoe. She wiped away her tears and gave a small smile for her sister.

"I thought I'd never see you again!" Molly cried. The child wrapped her arms around Annie's neck and silently wept.

Arthur stood at the doorway, unsure if he should be here for this private family moment. When the girl sniffed and raised her head, her wide brown eyes caught sight of him. There was something about those eyes that reminded him of someone, though, he couldn't place his finger on it.

She smiled and said, "I knew you'd help save me!"

He blinked, taken aback by her words. "What?"

Annie stood with Molly in her arms. "Molly, what are you talking about? You've never met this man before in your life!"

"But that's what the gold deer told me. He said he'd send someone to help me and now this man is here helping you get me home. What's your name, mister? I'm Molly Pike."

"It's Arthur, but your sister is right, we've never met before. How would you know me?"

Molly looked frustrated for a moment. "I told you, the gold deer said you'd help us."

"That's enough, Molly. Let's get you to Mabel since she's waiting on us but first," Annie untied her bandanna and wrapped it around the child's face. "Don't take that off until I say so."

He followed them to the horses, stepping over bodies that laid about on what used to be Indian land. He thought of Rains Fall at that moment and hoped the Wapiti people were okay. Maybe if he got the chance, he'd find a way to know how Rains Fall was doing and if Charles stayed with them.

The moment Mabel saw the bodies, he saw her face go deadly pale. Arthur expected her to become queasy, but somehow, she composed herself after a few deep breaths. The moment she saw Annie and Molly, the eldest sister began to cry. Annie rolled her eyes at Mabel's emotional display.

"Will you stop it and take Molly to the horses? I have to do something," Annie said.

"Can I take the blindfold off now?" Molly whined.

"No, wait 'til we get further from this place," Mabel replied.

Annie knelt down in front of the corpse of a bandit and went through his pockets. When she found what she needed, she dropped him and moved on to the next body.

"Good lord, what are you doing?" Mabel gasped.

Without stopping, Annie answered: "Looting for supplies."

"That is disrespectful. Stop that right now!"

Arthur found her to be ridiculous. The woman was afraid of her own shadow he'd guess. Hell, she probably never left her yard much less traveled this far out of town before.

"The girl is right," Arthur said. "If Empire is a ways from here, it's best if we loot their bodies for what we'll need."

He joined Annie in going through the pockets of the dead while Mabel and Molly waited on the Suffolk Punch. So far he'd looted fifteen dollars off the dead men. It wasn't much but was something at least. He found a body lying halfway outside and began to loot it. Annie wasn't far from him, leaning against the house as he pulled a satchel off the body. Going through it, he found a health tonic and snake oil. The snake oil was awful, but it helped him focus better in a fight.

"You done? 'Cause I wanna leave for Empire as soon as possible."

Arthur placed the satchel over his shoulder. "Yeah, I guess we should get out of here."

"Good. I hope you join us. We have a large house and..." Her eyes grew wide, and she gasped. "Arthur, look out!"

He spun around too late as a man with a bullet hole in his chest stuck him hard across the head with a metal object. He didn't go unconscious instantly like the last time someone knocked him out. Instead, he stumbled a few steps and fell over. The world spun around him and his hearing muffled. He could make out Annie's screaming followed by gunshots. He wanted to move and help her, but couldn't.

As his vision blackened, he couldn't help but think: That didn't last long...