"I decided to take a ride out of blackwater on my own for a while. Hosea has been riding me all week about getting into trouble back at the saloon again, guess I shouldn't have had that third bottle of whiskey which started the brawl. I thought it best to disappear until things cool down. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells since Hosea and Dutch are trying to cook up some big plan. Anyways, I'm heading up to Mount Shann where a bald eagle has nested. I have never seen one before, so if I get lucky, I'll see one for myself."
It was a wet afternoon on a spring day along the trail of the State of New Hanover. It was 1898, and a blonde man known as Arthur Morgan scribbled into his leather back journal on horseback, stopped on the edge of the road. A charcoal pencil in hand he sketched the gate of the fence specifically of the pillars of wood holding up the frame. The horse he sat upon was a young white Arabian which grazed in the grass sheltered from the rain under a tree. Grazing at the horses' side was a dark brown Mule tied by a rope to the Arabian's saddle. Down the trail from them was a large gate welcoming travellers to the town of Strawberry which he had sketched roughly into his journal. Arthur dressed in a white bison leather coat with a wolf pelt draped over his shoulders studied the image after he deemed it complete with a proud little smile on his lips. A worn and torn green gamblers hat tipped low over his eyes cast a shadow over his face. As people walked by, they paid him little mind as they scurried down the road heading for the train whose bell chimed in the distance. As the clouds started to disperse the sun broke through as mother nature finished her storming. After the rain calmed to a spit and the crowd dispersed, Arthur folded up his journal and tucked it away into his satchel for safe keeping. He shook out his fur cowl of any last remaining droplets of water and dusted off his sleeves before taking up the reigns of his horse. He reared the beautiful creature back away from the grass on the ground, and she honked disapprovingly at him for interrupting her snack.
"Hey, now Princess there will be better food once we arrive at the stable." He said patting her neck as she pranced in the spot shaking her wet mane. Arthur leaned back and eased her to turn around slowly where the sound of a loud honk sounded the mule standing behind them. He clicked his tongue on his teeth and squeezed Princess with his thighs, and she pushed forward heading up the hill through the gate. The long ride to this point had exhausted Princess, the extra weight of a buck carcass hanging off her rear slowing her stride. Behind them, the mule too was carrying a buck much larger than hers but was happily trotting along behind them on the lead tied to Princess. He was honking for Arthur who looked back to him catching the Mule trying to nip at the horses tail.
"Come on you jealous boy?" He asked and tugged the rope so the Mule would follow closer to him on his left and leave her alone.
As Arthur and his two beasts crested the hill, they entered a small yet bustling town inside a forest. Beautiful trees surrounded the village, and many of the buildings were in the middle of being constructed. There was also a flowing river that had a bridge erected over it and on a sunny day, it would have been a gorgeous place to visit. Unfortunately, like most poorly laid out towns, the weather had swept chaos through and wreaked havoc. Carts and horses had gotten stuck in the mud, and some people were even knee deep trying to recover their things. The main thoroughfare was dangerous for how many people in panic were trying to pull their stuck horses from the mud pits. Arthur dodged his two mammals around the long way and through the shallow mud avoiding the populated areas by keeping to the grass, and brought them to the closest hitch he could find to the butcher. The cowboy dismounted and tied them together on the post. As he approached the butcher counter no one was attending as the majority of people in the area were gathered in the around some commotion by a black and blue fancy carriage. He walked towards the crowd curiously and heard two women fighting, their shrill screams echoing from the foot of the carriage door. Arthur got closer by weaving through the crowd as the people who cheered loudly. Sheer morbid curiosity enticed him to see why there was a cheering section to the fight. Once he got through the last of the crowd, a loud smash sounded as wood splintered across the face of one of the aggressors in the conflict. Arthur dodged a projectile which smacked the man behind him in the face making his yelp and cover his nose — quickly he turned back to see the two women. They were in a calf-deep pit of mud covered head to toe in grim and wrestling one another. One woman was standing ankle deep in the dirt wearing a red dress and heels. She was tall with broad shoulders and muscular arms current pulling the second aggressor's hair.
"You lying bitch! That was my momma's ring, and I'll be damned if I see it on your whore of a finger!" Victim to the strength of the broad woman A girl of sixteen screamed like a banshee as she struggled to break free. Her dark brown hair a muddy mess tangled up on her head like a lasso the lady in red used to control her. Her ragged clothing was revealing too much of her figure to the crowd, and she was currently at the mercy of the Lady in red.
"Take it up with the jeweller! I paid for it!" The Lady in Red had a malicious tone but spoke calmly. She had control of the fight to the sacrifice of her expensive clothes now splattered with muck. She was, however, struggling in the dirt under the constraints of the wet skirt. There was a broken bucket beside them on the ground, and the red-head had splintered wood in her hair and blood dripping out her nose.
"What happened?" Arthur asked witnessing the fight and taking in the scene. He felt his chest tighten for some reason as the crowd just stood there and watched as these two rather lovely ladies fight like animals to their amusement.
"That little bitch there just smashed the Devil in the face with a bucket Hooheey! Hit her again!" A balding drunk chanted along with the others encouraging the fight.
"Disgusting, you just sit there and watch!?" Authur shouted and marched into the centre of the crowd towards the two brawling women. He entered the mud pit which slowed his pace and without hesitation joined in.
As the red-head slipped in her heels, the brunette swung her foot up in an attempt to kick her, but Arthur slapped it down and grabbed the redhead's hand and pried it free from the brunette's hair.
"That's enough!" He shouted and forced them apart.
The red-head barely fought against him as he pried her hand off of the girl. Once he threw her hand down, she pulled it to her chest panting heavily now she could regain herself. Dizzy from the head injury she looked at the strange, handsome man who decided the fight needed to stop with blurred vision. The Brunette, however, took this moment to attempt to tackle through Arthur but he stopped her easily and picked her up. The teen started kicking and screaming splashing mud over Arthur trying to get past him to attack the red-head again. He carried her a few steps away and set her down while she freaked out.
"Let me go they're nuttin but a who-Augh!" In the midst of her tantrum, Arthur pushed her back, and she slipped in the mud and fell onto her butt in a large paddy of thick mud.
"Shut up and go home." He barked loudly. It was clear she was the one who started the fight as the red-head merely stood there trying to regain her breath and was suffering from being smashed in the head with the bucket.
"The fact you have anything to say about me Henrietta is a laugh! You've slept with half the town for free!" The red-head shouted after she brushed mud-soaked curly hair back off her face. There was a fury in her eyes as she tried to move but had gotten stuck in the mud. Dazed and unable to escape her heels she sounded tough but looked somewhat helpless. Arthur saw how she in distress and left the brunette to flounder in the muck to assist. He reached out giving her his hand, and she took it. Arthur gripped her firmly so she could peel herself out of the mud with her strength as he kept her balanced and guided her to solid ground.
"Are you alright mam?" He asked as she held her head. He noticed the matching red coat to her dress was trampled in the mud. Once she was standing on her own Arthur retrieved it for her and handed it back after shaking it out first. She took it and collected under her arm accepting the fact her dress got ruined. Her head was spinning, so the woman wasn't able to make good eye contact with anyone let alone formulate a response just yet. Arthur studied her for a moment, her face half smeared with mud which she was trying to clean off using her coat. He could scarcely see the freckles which crested her shallow nose from too much sun exposure and the scar on her chin which had healed poorly. However, Her eyes were a stunning green shade inside perfectly almond shaped lids which could not be masked by the dirt. For a brief moment, she glanced back and mouthed a thank you to him, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
"I should be alright." She said and touched her nose and winced. Arthur approached her to get a better look at her injury, but before he was able to say anything, Henrietta interrupted.
"I'll kill you!" Henrietta screamed after she finally scrambled up off the ground. She had gotten to her feet and grabbed a piece of splintered wood heading back for the woman in red. She stopped in her tracks as all the attention turned when the click of a gun being cocked sounded. Arthur had a surprised look on his face as he watched the red-head lightning quick drew his silver-plated volcanic pistol from his belt and pointed it at the brunette. He looked down to his empty holster and back to her somewhat intrigued on how she was able to stealthily and speedily draw his pistol. The crowd stood still as everyone froze waiting for the snap of a bullet to fire. Only silence followed.
After a quiet minute of blood-curdling tension, A second click of another gun sounded behind him. This time eyes turned towards the carriage where the fight took place.
"Excuse me. I think it's time you got back into the carriage, Isabella." A third woman stated in a soft, elegant voice with a British accent. She was wearing a large white hat with plums of coloured feathers and flowers with blonde curly hair tumbling out from under it. Her royal blue and the well-tailored corseted dress fit her curves snugly, and something about her struck Arthur as familiar as if he had seen her before. She was enchanting to witness, but her angelic look was contrasted by long barreled high-velocity rifle firm in her grip. She was standing in the door of the carriage with her boot stepped up on the frame so she could rest the barrel of the gun on her thigh and had pointed it at Henrietta.
Arthur started to feel the sweat dripping down his neck at the situation he found himself in since his pistol was no longer in his hands.
"May I suggest," Arthur spoke and put his hand on the red-heads and lowered her gun in a gentle motion. "You give her the ring?" He asked in which the red woman glared at him in response.
"If she can pay for it." The blonde woman from the carriage said.
"I can't pay for it... but it's mine." Henrietta had tears in her eyes, she was full spirited and ready to fight, but the two guns pointed at her left her scared and nervous.
"Is it worth dying over?" Arthur asked her kindly.
"...Yes," Henrietta replied as her eyes swelled up. Whatever the ring meant to her. It was surely something important since her face was red with rage. "Ugh! Fine!" The red-head let the pistol fall, and she let out a long frustrated growl and shoved it into Arthur's hands. He eased her rash actions and took the weapon and held it more confident in the situation now with his gun returned to him. The red-head pulled off her gloves and removed a small gold ring from her finger that has a sapphire embedded into it.
"Take it, but you need to clean my clothes, the gentleman's too." She said and made her way over to Henrietta, the hem of her dress dragging through the mud, but she walked with a march. Once she approached the miserable girl, she handed the ring to her abruptly.
As Henrietta gripped the splintered weapon tight in her grip, she wanted to swing, but the blonde still had her at gunpoint. Surrendering to them she dropped the chunk of wood and took the ring back, shaking her head silently in agreement.
"Now that's the end of that! Everyone can go right fuck off then eh!" The red-head yelled at the crowd who groaned seeing such an anticlimactic end to the argument. They started to move on as the blonde released Henrietta from gunpoint.
"I will pick up your clothes tomorrow at noon for cleaning," Henrietta said and slipped the ring on her finger and held it to her chest with a small smile on her lips.
"I am fine no need to worry about me," Arthur said quickly left the situation.
"Nonsense. A Gentlemen like yourself does not get to leave so suddenly. You stepped in the middle of a fight that is not your own to protect ladies from their own squabble. We have to thank you." The blonde spoke up and shouldered her weapon.
"I merely did not want to see bloodshed today. I'm glad I could assist good day mam." He said and tipped his hat to them and walked off anyway not turning back around. The ladies started discussing things amongst themselves, and Arthur exited the crowd he headed back to the butchers counter where the owner had just returned to after the fight ended.
"No one's going to buy you a drink for stopping that show partner." He said as Arthur removed his wet wolf pelt and threw it on the saddle of his horse.
"Hm Howdy to you too. I got a catch for you or would you rather I haul this off to someone else?"
"Oh hold on there, I only kid show me what you got."
Arthur paused for a moment leaving the butcher to wait as he patiently thought out his next steps. Luckily his white bison leather jacket, handcrafted after hunting such a rare creature in the snowy mountains was only lightly splattered with mud. The wolf pelt, however, did not survive so well and shooting a new one would be easier than getting it cleaned. He could sell it, but he would rather sit on it for now. The weather in the distance started to darken as the thunder clouds began to grow above. What was a freak downpour was about to become a storm? If he needed to stay warm, it was the best thing to keep. He looked to his horse and mule and started to untie the carcasses from their backs while his thoughts were stirring deeper. Hiking up a mountain trail with two mammals was hard enough, and Princess was an extraordinarily skittish girl. Even while Arthur lifted the buck off the Arabian's back, she danced and swayed in spot huffing heavily and shaking her mane. Princess would not fare well in a thunderstorm even with all of Arthur's attention, and he could not ignore his mule.
"Ah, I sell em so yeah, what can you give me?" Arthur shouted to the butcher as he hauled it over and hung it on the rack.
"Pretty good shot here mister, right through the heart with... a rifle?" The butcher inspected the creature as Arthur returned to the happy mule who neighed with joy when Arthur came near and stroked his neck.
"No! An arrow! Who's a good boy?" He soothed the goofy eared mammal after he shouted to the butcher who investigated the carcass with an impressed look. Arthur ruffled the mules floppy ears as it huffed and shivered while nudging Arthur's chest with his nose before it began to nibble at his bandana tugging it gently. The entire time Arthur was giving him rough scratches behind his ears with gloved hands and a smile on his face.
"He's cute, what's his name?" A feminine voice spoke up from behind him. It was the blonde Englishwoman from the carriage. She must have followed him across the road.
"I call him the Duke," Arthur said giving him a few heavy pats.
"I'm in love with how sweet he is on you." She said and folded her hands over her heart watching the Duke fawn over his loving owner.
"He's a handful though, always wanting attention but he is a good boy," Arthur replied when the Duke snatched the bandana from his neck and ripped two buttons off his shirt at the same time — trying to eat it while he was distracted.
"Hey! No no no give it back." Arthur scrambled to pull the fabric out of the Duke's teeth before he swallowed it as a cackle of giggles burst from the blonde beauty who watched in amusement. Arthur stepped back away from the mule who extended himself to the maximum range he could on his lead, his teeth still desperately reaching for Arthur as he looked at the slobbery bandana now torn in two.
"I'm glad I can entertain you," Arthur said and pocketed it as she finally overcame her giggle fit.
"My apologies, but I had to come over and talk to you myself, and I'm not here to tease I promise." She said and stepped back allowing Arthur the space he needed so he could finish unloading his kill to the butcher. Arthur returned to his task and started to unstrap the second buck from the Duke's once he distracted him with a sugar cube.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Arthur asked as he hauled the buck onto his shoulder with ease. She was beautiful alright with her bright blue eyes and plump pink lips, but the smell of trouble was on her, and it was as strong as her perfume.
"If you would allow myself and the girls to buy you dinner, as a thank you. Izzy is too proud to ask for help let alone thank someone herself. She doesn't like being a damsel in distress, but you stepped in when we needed someone to step in." The mysterious blonde stood and watched him work, and Arthur could feel her gaze as he hulled the second buck onto the table. The butcher took his hat off and made a loud whooping sound checking out the second carcass.
"My lord! You are one good shot! Through the heart again! I bet the taxidermist would want this one look at the size of him!" The butcher started fishing out cash from his apron and collected it into a clip. A sly little grin on Arthur's face and he puffed his chest out a little bit when he stood back up. Taking off his gamblers hat to comb his hair back with his fingers as the butcher handed him the handful of cash. He took the money with a thank you and walked back to the girl who watched biting her index finger and eyeing him.
"Well, I was going to ride north and camp in the mountains, but with this storm coming in and an invitation as welcoming like that. I'm still going to decline." Arthur said bluntly walking up to her to be direct.
Her mouth was agape, and she gasped, but there was a massive smile on her face in response to the grin on Arthur's.
"You are something else. Well maybe this will change your mind, My name is Lady Rosalyn Bush, and I suggest you reconsider. " She said and cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Well, now that's a familiar name, where have I heard it before?" Arthur asked looking at her curiously. Her face brought a sense of nostalgia to him, he had seen it before. Lady Rosalyn stood tall and hicked up her skirt and stuck a pose like she was having her photo taken.
"A man who enjoys camping must have a can of beans or two in his satchel. Nothing less than the best for the strong men who built our country. Perhaps you should take one out and look a little closer." She spoke with an American accent, and it was her voice which sang the song of beans on a film reel he saw at the theatre. Rosalyn rocked her hips and held her head up with an air of pride. Arthur, now curiously enchanted by her, did indeed have a can of beans on him. He flipped open his bag and not taking his eyes off her pulling it out giving her a hard look before checking the label.
"Well, I'll be damned. Is this you?" He asked turning the label towards her.
The image of a lady painted on the side beside the company brand with long braided blonde hair and big blue eyes. The painting was wearing revealing clothes with body proportions slightly elongated, but there was no doubt in his mind it was her.
"Yes sir, and that is my recipe too." She said with a smile and struck the pose on the side label flashing her brilliant smile which was what brought that nostalgia to him. Many years were spent staring at her face on the side of the can beside campfires and dirty ditches.
"Then I must be dreaming if I am in the presence of someone truly famous because I sure do enjoy your beans very much," Arthur said and gave her a bow. A little guilt behind his eyes.
"Most cowboys do, but I don't very much like all the cowboys. Or girls for that matter, ever since we arrived the people have been nothing but hostile towards me and my caravan. It's been a while since a kind soul has crossed our path and I do not wish to risk bad luck on the rest of our journey by not taking care of those who show my girls and I kindness. So I ask you to please reconsider and let me spoil you." Rosalyn returning to her natural voice was very stern but welcoming and kind. She spoke like Dutch did when addressing the gang with a fierce intensity behind her eyes which locked onto his. He fell victim to her gaze once again this time was unable to decline.
"Oh alright, you can buy me dinner. Though I'm probably going to need a bath as well to clean up after that little fight your girl started." Arthur added and unhitched his two companions from their post. If he played his cards right, she might even cover all his costs to stay in town for the night and perhaps he could leave with his pockets a little heavier then when he came.
"My girls start no fights, but we do finish them I'll explain later. The carriage got stuck in the mud, so everyone already went on foot to the hotel. Why don't you get those two cuties stabled and meet me there?" Rosalyn said and hicked her skirt up to ready herself to trek through the mud. Her boots already stained with two inches of dirt, and they didn't look like good boots to stomp around in through the mud.
"Get on." Arthur gestured to Princess.
"Really?" She asked gazing at the beautiful white Arabian.
"You're wearing expensive clothes. I'll give you a ride." He said and held the lead for Princess towards her.
"Is it friendly?" Rosalyn asked and approached the horse.
"She's skittish, but with me here she will be alright." He said as Rosalyn walked up to her and took the lead before approaching her cautiously and slowly. Princess swayed away from her at first but relaxing as the Lady pet her neck gently.
"She is beautiful. What's her name."
"Princess."
"Ah, I get it." She pointed between the two animals and chuckled.
"Very cute. Am I to be right to assume this is a rare horse? I don't see many albino white horses roaming around" She asked and hoisted herself up and sat side saddle on the Arabian and held the horn to keep herself steady.
Arthur got up onto the Duke who honked very loudly when he was mounted since Arthur was rather heavy.
"You could say so, hard to tame though. Probably won't be able to sell her for much if I can't get her to relax." He clicked his teeth and gave the command, and the pair started towards the stable beside the hotel. Most of the ride was spent giving Rosalyn instructions on how to keep Princess settled, with a strange rider on her back and her attempts to ride all ladylike. The horse was left agitated the entire time. Rosalyn almost getting bucked off twice when she tried to lead her to roughly yanking on the reins trying to stop herself from falling off.
"Okay, I think it's time I got off now." Rosalyn's voice was shaky as she struggled with Princess to lead her up to the stable. One of the hands had to run out and grab Princess before she reared and Rosalyn hopped off her quickly as the Horse began to prance more as she escaped.
"I should have told you to sit properly, or else she won't respect you." Arthur was chuckling the whole way down riding gracefully on the back of the Mule who marched with pride now that the love of his life was riding his back.
"Well, it's a good thing the hotel isn't far from here. I think walking will be safer." Rosalyn ran out of the stable leaving the horse hand and Arthur to take care of locking them up for the night.
They were de-saddled, housed and fed before Arthur left them and headed back out to meet Rosalyn who was in the middle of paying the Stableman.
"Give them some extra treats and a bath for me please." She said and gave the gent a kiss on the cheek and an extra 5 dollars.
"Yes, indeed Lady Bush." He said and tipped his hat to her running off as Arthur approached.
"Would you like to meet my girls now?" Rosalyn asked.
"Sure!" Arthur said and took off his hat as they headed into the hotel, he didn't have to rob her she was throwing money around. What was once a hunting trip to escape the gang's noose, was going to turn into a pretty hefty score if he played this woman right.