Chapter 2: We'll Make A Day Of It.
AN: This has taken me far longer than I had planned on taking to update this story. I was far too busy playing the game to work on this. But now that I have beat the game and played a fair bit on the online side of it I feel I have enough to update this story. I hope you enjoy it as it was a right pain to write.
By the time he woke up, Arthur could tell that the Sun was setting over the snow-capped mountains of the Grizzly's. He wasn't sure why the mountain range was called that seeing as little in the way of life lived so far north, much less a bear of any notable size but in the end, he doubted he would have cared all that much anyhow if he ever found out why. It was just a name, much the same as the towns of Valentine or Strawberry or even Blackwater. People named things and sometimes it made little sense as to why. Getting back to his feet he felt a familiar ache at the base of his spine. The kind that came with sleeping on something less than ideal for the task of sleeping soundly. Doing his best to walk it off he exited the house and pulled himself into the saddle of his horse and rode off. The somewhat cool evening air biting at his face.
Hours later he entered the temporary camp and at once Leopold Strauss walked over. His hand already out awaiting a payment that would never come. This was the part he hated the most. Having to tell the Austrian man that a payment was unable to be paid. Strauss absolutely hated having his money lost due to runaway debtors. But the longer he was forced to wait, the more upset he would end up being and so with one last calming breath, he spoke the words.
"He ran off before I got there. The whole place was stripped bare. He must've left days ago. I also found he has been keeping newspapers so he must have known we were in the area". Arthur said making the man give him a hard look. The kind of look Arthur had seen on him many a time and one he didn't at all enjoy having sent his way. However, after a few seconds of this, he took a few calming breaths before pushing his spectacles up his nose.
"I...see will I shall leave it to you to inform the group that we'll be unable to buy any supplies this week due to this loss of payment". Strauss said before turning promptly on his heels and walking back to his tent leaving him standing around the pot that was still cooking their newest meal.
"What was that about"? John Marston asked as he walked over. As he did so he was busily enjoying a nice fat apple. A sizeable slice already sitting atop his knife ready to be eaten.
"Oh, it's nothing. He's just upset due to a lost payment. The fucker ran off right under our noses". Arthur answered making his friend give him a loud laugh. One that turned a fair few heads in the camp.
"Sorry...really but that is a massive fuck up. Our last job was...well you know". John said before waving his hand at the camp. Looking at the sad state of the camp he knew all too well how the gang would take the news. Without that payment, they would be unable to buy anything and that meant a new score and one that needed to be found as soon as possible. However, no such job seemed to exist and what few did held far too little to make it back into the black. There was news of something in Blackwater but that still needed to be verified by the gang's peculiar informant. Until then all any of them could do was wait and hope. The two continued to talk for a fair bit longer about everything from a round of poker to a fishing trip down by the river to even going into town and getting red-faced drunk. Arthur passing on all but one of them. One that made the younger man give him a hard pat on the back.
"Will great we'll make a day out of it". John said as he walked back to his tent and got his money for the trip. Looking at the amount of money John had taken for this trip he couldn't help but shake his head in mild amusement at the younger man's antics.
"We're just going for a few rounds, John. We're not buying the damn place. What on earth would you be needing that kind of money for"? Arthur asked making the man give him a look that he laughed off. Minutes later the two were racing through the trees and down the hills at breakneck speed. Many a woodland animal racing to get out of the way of the two men. It wasn't long before the town came into view. The kind of town that seemed to just grow overnight but still somehow had kept that old west feel to itself. Tieing their horses to a post outside the establishment the two walked inside and ordered themselves a round of whiskey. A few minutes later that became two then three then five and on and on. By the hour mark, the two were so red-faced drunk that John had ended up falling facefirst onto the floor.
"God damn it"! Arthur yelled as he hoisted the idiot onto his horse and paid their bill. By the way the fool was muttering his incoherent gibberish he doubted he would remember the day at all. Still, it was a nice day out. At least it had taken his mind off the desperate need for cash. He could only hope that they would soon find something to remedy the situation.