Chapter 25

Edgar Ross sat at his desk, feet propped up and a cigar in his mouth. He twirled his hat in his hands as he studied the paperwork at his desk. The big bright red 'APPROVAL' stared back him and he couldn't stop the smirk that stretched across his face. John Marston would get what was coming to him, and Edgar would be revered as a hero. There wasn't anything that could go wrong now that he'd gotten the approval to use the extra men he'd asked for. He couldn't help but chuckle. He'd get a promotion for this act of "heroism" for sure.

"I take it the approval came back?"

Edgar looked to the doorway and found Archer Fordham leaning against the frame. The older man grabbed the paper on his desk and waved it towards Archer. "Sure did."

"When do you plan to do it?" Archer asked.

"Today."

Archer's brows shot upward in surprise. "Today? Are you sure?" Archer walked into the office further, shutting the door behind him.

"The quicker, the better. I can have the men in place in a few hours. It can be done by late afternoon at the latest." Edgar sat the paperwork down. "Why don't you have a seat, Archer. I have a question for you."

Archer took a seat in the chair across from the desk. "What is it, sir?"

"Would you ride with me?" This wasn't a surprise question. Archer was Edgar's right hand man and had been for a while now. Edgar had complete faith that this whole thing would go off without a hitch if Archer accompanied him.

"I can't."

Now this was a surprise. "You can't?" Edgar was confused. "Why the hell not?"

"Catherine."

Once again, Edgar's niece had interfered in his work. God, what he would do to be rid of the pest! "What does Catherine have to do with this?"

"You and I both know how she feels toward John Marston. I don't think it would be wise for me to upset her in the way she will be when she finds out."

To say he was annoyed was a gross understatement. His niece's fascination with the Outlaw in question had been a source of embarrassment for too long. He knew that the brat thought he was the bad guy and Marston was the hero. "Archer, you're telling me that you refuse to take part in this?"

"It's not that I refuse—"

"You just don't want to upset your future wife." Edgar was livid that his right hand man was backing out of such an important mission.

"Forgive me, I just don't believe I can do it."

Edgar managed to push down his bubbling anger and exhaled. "Then I will do it without you." He couldn't believe that he was going to let this go. But he was. "Keep her distracted, then. I can't have her trying to do something foolish. Go plan your wedding or something."

"Edgar, I can still assist with the plans."

"Nonsense. Go spend time with my niece." He couldn't wait for them to get married so he would no longer have to deal with her. Archer would keep her in line, he was sure of that.

"If you're sure…"

"Go."

Archer found himself standing at the doorstep of Catherine's father's house not too long after. It was nearly one o'clock, Philip wouldn't be home for hours. He briefly thought about going to the bank to let him know that he would be with his daughter, but he scrapped the idea. He and Catherine were getting married, being alone in the house wasn't a crime. He knocked on the door and waited for her to come let him inside.

"Hello?" Catherine's head poked out of the door. When she noticed him standing there, she opened the door all the way. "Archer, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I thought I'd come spend the afternoon with you instead."

He was pleased when she gave him a smile. "That's sweet of you."

"Can I come inside?"

"Oh, um… my father isn't home."

"Right. Would you feel more comfortable going to your Uncle's house?" He didn't like having to be chaperoned, but he understood the reasoning. He couldn't wait for their wedding so he could be alone with her whenever he desired.

"We can, if you like." There wasn't anything like her smile, Archer decided. It was radiant.

Archer extended his hand toward her and he couldn't stop the grin that engulfed his face when he saw the ring on her finger. This woman was going to be his wife soon, and he couldn't be more thrilled about it. "I'll lead the way, future Mrs. Fordham."

While the circumstances weren't great, Archer was thankful for the time he spent with Catherine today. Edgar's wife, Emily, had been more than pleased to leave them to their own devices for the most part. He and Catherine now sat on the porch together, with her head resting on his shoulder. It was nice to have a level of closeness with this woman that she wouldn't share with anyone else.

"Do you hear that?" Catherine asked, picking up her head from his shoulder.

Before he could ask what she'd heard, he heard it himself. Hooves were pounding on the ground at a quick pace. He looked around and found the cause of the sounds. More men than he could count were riding past the house on heavily armed horses.

Archer instantly knew what was happening. The attack on Beecher's Hope was officially underway.

"Is that Uncle Edgar?" Catherine asked. Sure enough, bringing up the back was Edgar Ross. Catherine's eyes followed her uncle until she could no longer see him. When that happened, she stood up and went to the railing, leaning over to get a better view. "Where is he going with so many men?" She continued to watch for a while longer before he saw panic rise in her eyes. "Archer, what's going on?"

"I have no idea, Catherine." He lied. He couldn't tell her what was happening.

"Archer, he's going towards Beecher's Hope! Why is he going there?" Catherine rounded on him with a speed he'd never seen before.

"How do you know that's where he's headed?"

"That's not important—"

"The hell it isn't, Catherine!" Archer was angry she tried to brush off his question. How did she know that's where Edgar was headed?

"Archer Fordham, you tell me why my uncle is leading a group of armed men to John Marston's ranch!" She demanded. Archer had never seen her so angry before. The woman that stood before him was not the shy, soft-spoken girl he'd fallen in love with. No, this was a woman who showed confidence. Archer was sure that if he wasn't so angry at her knowledge of John Marston's home, that he would not be able to keep his hands off her.

"You know where he lives? Have you been there?" More anger filled him at the very idea of John Marston being alone with his Catherine.

"Archer, please! Tell me what is going on!" Catherine begged. Her fingers knotted themselves into his shirt, which she clung to like her life depended on it. "What is my uncle doing?"

Archer didn't want to tell her. But the look she was giving him, the way she was clinging to him… "John Marston is getting what he deserves."

Tears built in her eyes as she loosened her grip on him. "He's going to kill him." She concluded. Catherine shook her head. "No. No, I won't let him." Without another word, she turned on her heel and began to run towards the horse she and her father shared.

"Catherine!" Archer ran after her, catching her by the waist before she could make it to the horse.

"Archer, let go of me!" She demanded, squirming to get out of his grasp.

"I will not let you try to interfere! You have no place in this." Archer had managed to turn her around to face him, though he still held her in his arms.

"John doesn't deserve this, Archer. You've agreed that he's changed!"

Archer cursed his loose tongue. "He's a killer, Catherine. The law is the law."

He watched disgust build on her face. "John Marston is a good man! He saved my life! He did what you asked! He did it!"

"It wasn't enough."

"Archer, do you love me?" She was surprisingly calm, but the tears that were streaming down her face were evidence of her true feelings.

"More than anything." There wasn't hesitation in his reply. He loved Catherine.

"Without John, I wouldn't be here. I would have died five years ago." She placed her hands on each of his arms, wrapping her fingers around them. "If you truly love me, let me try to save the life of the man who saved mine." She gave a push and Archer was surprised when he let her leave his arms. Before he could grab her again, she'd climbed up on the horse and started to ride off in the direction that the army had gone. It took him nearly a full minute to realize what had happened.

He had to go after her.

The time has come. If you're reading the story, I hope you know the ending of the first game, otherwise massive spoilers are ahead. How do we feel about Catherine's attitude in this? Let me know!