Chapter is rated M for sexual content. Songs are "Sweet Caroline" and "Simple Man".

Chapter 27: Simple Man

Sam sat there for what seemed like hours, just staring at the door. Where had Arthur gone, and what kind of dream did he have to make him leave? And who was Isaac? Sam wore a consistent frown as she waited for Arthur to return. Finally she got out of bed and got dressed in her brown chemise, black pants, and black boots. She didn't bother with her hat. She opened the door, walked into the hall, and closed the door behind her. While making her way down the stairs, she spotted the concierge and gave him a wave.

"Hi. Have you seen my...husband anywhere?" she asked.

"Yes, he went outside, but that was a while ago," the man replied.

"Thanks." Sam left the hotel and went outside to go look for Arthur, but his horse Boadicea II was gone. "Shit."

Sam sighed in frustration and decided to go back up to the room. She undressed and crawled into bed. Sam tossed and turned, unable to go back to sleep. At least not right away. She finally did, though, and she dreamed about the buck. Sam didn't chase it this time. She wasn't ready to leave for home yet. Not with Arthur gone and him having some sort of bad dream.

When she woke up, it was morning and the sun was shining through the window. Arthur was sleeping next to her so she clung to him, resting her head on his chest. He grunted and put an arm around her body.

"Where did you go last night?" she asked Arthur.

"Out. Found that debtor but he got killed by a cougar," Arthur replied softly.

Sam gasped and sat up. "You're kidding."

Arthur opened one eye to look at her. "Nope, not kidding at all."

Sam frowned and laid back down. "Poor guy."

"Yeah. Gotta go to the butcher this morning and sell the pelt. That was his payment."

Sam kissed his chest and looked up at him. "You worried me last night."

"I know, I'm sorry. I had a...bad dream."

"I noticed. Do you want to talk about it?"

"...Not really, Sam. Just leave it alone."

"Okay, well, if you change your mind...I'm here for you."

Arthur looked down at her with a sad smile. "Thanks."

He lifted her chin and kissed her gently, then the kiss quickly became heated and he pulled her on top of him. Sam felt his erection under her and smiled into the kiss.

"Mmm, someone is frisky this morning."

"Mmhmm." Sam adjusted her bottom half and grasped his member, stroking it and rubbing her thumb over the tip. Arthur leaned his head back and groaned in pleasure. Sam loved to tease him. She raised herself on her knees and let his cock barely poke at her entrance. Arthur growled at her hesitation and glared at her playfully. "Stop teasin' me."

Sam shook her head and giggled, wiggling her hips in a circular motion. "Nope."

Arthur growled again and grasped her hips before slamming her down on him. Sam moaned out loudly at this and Arthur grunted as he yanked her upper half down and started sucking on one of her nipples. Sam moaned out from the wonderful sensation and began grinding herself on him. He thrust up inside her repeatedly and grabbed her other breast, tweaking her nipple. The pace of riding increased and Sam started moaning louder and more frequently. At one point, Sam sat up straight and raised herself up and down on him. Arthur grabbed both her tits and kneaded them. Sam pressed her hands to his chest and arched her head back.

"Arthur," she whimpered, feeling her climax was near. "You're gonna make me come."

Arthur plunged up inside her more vigorously, taking his hand and flicking her bean with his thumb. "Yeah, sweetheart...come for me," Arthur spoke out.

Sam went up and down faster and faster, suddenly gasping loudly as her pussy clenched and relaxed around his dick. Arthur scratched at her hips desperately before sitting up and wrapping his arms around her, kissing and licking her breasts and nipples. Sam held him close as she rode him hard. She felt another orgasm hit her and she cried out immediately.

"Sam, I'm gonna come..." he whispered breathlessly. Sam got off him and started sucking him off immediately. Arthur made a guttural noise as his seed spilled into Sam's mouth. As she swallowed, Arthur put a hand through her hair and grasped tightly. He fell back onto the bed, breathing hard and fast. Sam looked at him and began to chuckle. "What's so funny?"

"You're just cute after you come," she said.

Arthur laughed. "Shut up and c'mere..." Sam crawled up next to him, pulled the covers up and laid down, brushing her fingers through his chest hair. As she shut her eyes, she felt him kiss the top of her head. "Did you dream about your buck last night?"

"Yes, but I stopped chasing him."

"Why?"

"I didn't want to leave yet."

Arthur stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "Oh."

Sam looked up at him, elbowing the bed and resting the side of her head in her palm. "Besides, the fucker keeps running away so I decided to change tactics."

Arthur let out a bellyful laugh and pulled her in closer. "You're funny."

"Damn right I am." Arthur chuckled deeply and kissed the top of her head. "You wanna start heading out?"

"Not just yet. I'm tired."

"Well, that's what happens when you're gone all night long."

Arthur sighed and started to stroke her blonde hair. "I know."

Sam nuzzled her face against his chest and kissed it. "Sleep?"

"Yes."

The two eventually dozed off and slept for at least a few hours before waking up again. Sam watched Arthur from the bed as he dressed in his summer gunslinger outfit, then she went and put her own clothes on and armed herself. The two checked out, left the hotel, and made their way over to the butcher to sell the cougar pelt. They then left Strawberry and chatted happily along their trip. Arthur asked for more information about the future and Sam picked a controversial topic.

"Well, black people eventually get equal rights," she said. "All thanks to a man named Martin Luther King Jr."

Arthur gaped at her in amazement. "Really?"

"Uh huh. Granted, racism still exists. I'd say it's not as bad but as a white woman who was not alive during that time, I don't know for sure."

"Hmm. What else?"

"Let's see...hmm," Sam said, pondering for a moment or two before deciding on another topic. "When I left, the whole world was in the middle of a pandemic called the coronavirus."

"What's that?"

"A virus. Lots of people have died from it. People were ordered to stay in their homes until it passed, but a lot of people didn't really listen, so it's still going on, probably."

"And you want to go back to that?" Arthur asked with shock in his voice.

Sam looked at him with a sad expression. "Still safer than here."

"Sure doesn't sound like it."

"Well, I don't have to worry about getting shot. At least not frequently."

"...What?"

"Robbery and mugging still goes on, but it's never happened to me. Usually when it happens, it's at gun point."

Arthur sighed with a shake of his head. "I still don't think your time is any safer than here."

"It's the life I'm used to."

"And you can't get used to life here?"

"Not if I have to kill people."

"Fair enough."

The conversation continued on well through the day and by the time they got back to camp, it was dark out. Most people were already asleep...except Sean and Uncle. Sean and Uncle were up drinking, which didn't surprise Sam one bit. Sean got up from the campfire with a drink in his hand and he stumbled towards the two.

"Hello, Englishman. Hello, Sam," he said, taking a big swig of whiskey. "Where did you two run off to?"

"Just went to Strawberry to collect a debt," Arthur replied.

"Oh. Did ya have fun?"

Sam grinned as she put an arm around Arthur's waist. "Yes."

Sean laughed. "I bet you did."

Sam grinned, shoving her fist into Sean's shoulder. "Shut up."

"Come sit by the fire with us, let's sing some songs."

Sam looked at Arthur with a pout. "Can we?"

Arthur had a scolding but amused look. "Fiiine."

Sam giggled and clung to Arthur's hand as she followed Sean to the campfire. Sean, Uncle and Arthur did a rendition of "Oh Mollie" and a few other songs. The couple drank some beers and smoked some cigarettes. Afterwards, Sean asked Sam if she had any songs she knew. She pondered a bit before standing up.

"I know one I could sing, but you three have to join in," she said.

"Do we know it?" Sean asked curiously.

"Nope, but don't worry. You only have to join in on the chorus." Sam cleared her throat. "When I tell you to, the first one you gotta sing is "bah bah baaah," then the other part is you gotta yell, "so good, so good, so good!" Okay?"

The men nodded and Sam started singing "Sweet Caroline". When she got to the first line of the chorus, she pointed at the men and they went, "bah bah baaah". After the second verse, she pointed once more and they shouted, "so good, so good, so good!" Sam continued on with the song. When the second chorus came up, the men hit their cues right on time. At the last, they were flawless. As the song ended, Sam started giggling happily and took a sip of her beer.

"That was fun!" Uncle exclaimed with a joyful tone. "Got any more?"

Sam looked up at the stars and sighed. "Maybe just one more."

She cleared her throat and began to sing.

Well Momma told me

When I was young

Said sit beside me

My only son

And listen closely

To what I say

And if you do this

It'll help you some sunny day

Ah yeah, it will

So take your time

Don't live too fast

Troubles will come

And they will pass

You'll find a woman

And you'll find love

And don't forget that

There is a someone up above

And be a simple kind of man

Be something you love and understand

Baby be a simple kind of man

Oh won't you do this, for me son, if you can...

As Sam continued singing in a clean and stable tone, she couldn't help but notice Arthur staring at her lovingly. He looked star struck and it made her blush. As she finished the song, Sean, Uncle and Arthur started clapping...along with a few other people behind her. Sam stood up and turned around with red cheeks. There was Hosea, Dutch, Javier, Charles, and Molly.

"That was real beautiful, Sam," Dutch commented.

"Gotta say, I've never heard a song like that before," Hosea said.

Sam bit her lower lip. She knew she wasn't the best singer, but at least she wasn't tone deaf. "I'm sorry if I woke anyone up."

"Ah, it's okay," Hosea explained. "It was a nice song to wake up to."

"I would like to learn it so I can play it on my guitar," Javier interjected. "You wouldn't happen to know the chords, would you?"

"No idea, but I can repeat the sound of the notes foryou sometime."

Arthur got up and wrapped an arm around Sam's waist. "I think it's time we hit the hay, sweetheart," he whispered into her ear.

Sam chuckled and whispered back, "is that what you really have in mind?"

Arthur chuckled deeply and started pushing her with his body towards the tent. "We're retirin' for the evenin', folks. Have a good night."

Sam stumbled a little and let out a cackle. "Yes, good night everybody."

"Good night," everyone said to them.

Once they were in Sam's tent, Arthur tenderly pressed against Sam's lips with his own and they started relieving each other of their clothes. Slowly. Apparently, Arthur wanted to take his time with her. This was confirmed when they started engaging in sexual intercourse and Arthur's thrusts stayed gentle and deliberate. Sam was quite certain this wasn't just regular sex - they were making love. When they were done, they both fell asleep together.

In the morning, Sam woke up to Arthur watching her. He had his palm to the side of his head and his elbow on the pillow.

"Hi," he said with a smile.

"Hi," Sam said in a groggy voice. "Were you watching me sleep?"

"A little bit."

"Why?" Sam giggled.

"Because you're beautiful."

Sam blushed and shoved him gently. "Shut up," she said bashfully.

Arthur let out a low chuckle and wrapped his arms around her. "C'mere..."

Sam did as she was told and nuzzled up to him. They kissed gently a few times before Sam rested her head on his shoulder. "What are you doing today?"

Arthur shrugged. "I'm not sure. You?"

"Might go hunting."

"You're always huntin'."

"I know but I have a knack for it."

Arthur slid a hand down her body to her chest, making Sam gasp as he pinched a nipple. "You know what else you have a knack for?"

As he continued tweaking her nipple, she closed her eyes and nibbled on her lower lip. "What's that?"

"Fuckin' me."

Sam threw her head back and laughed. Arthur took this moment to kiss and graze her throat with his teeth. Sam scratched his back as Arthur's hand traveled south towards her mound. He slipped a finger into her slit and slowly and softly began rubbing. This caused Sam to gasp and moan.

"Arthur?" Dutch said from outside the tent. "I need a few moments of your time."

Arthur lowered his head sharply and Sam made a high pitched giggle. "Go on, it's okay," she said.

Arthur raised his head and looked at the flaps. "Alright Dutch, just give me a minute," Arthur belted out. He turned to Sam with a serious yet somewhat playful stare. "You better be here when I get back, woman. I ain't finished with you yet."

"Oooooo, is that a promise?"

Arthur rubbed her womanhood a little more and kissed her harshly. "Yes."

"Then I'll be waiting."

Arthur got up and began dressing in his summer gunslinger outfit. He put on his gun belt, winked at Sam, and walked out of the tent. Sam laid on her back with her hands behind her head, feeling extremely satisfied with herself.