I'm posting early because I felt bad about the cliffhanger, and I'm super excited about being almost finished with this story! One more chapter after this, and I'm trying to stretch it a little to hit that 100,000 word total.


Chapter 29: Onward

All the air rushed out of Arthur's chest as he plunged into the icy waters of the Dakota River. His arms flailed, bringing him to the surface for a breath before the rapids pulled him under again, the river's grip ceaseless and inescapable. His body smashed into a rock, and his gasp at the pain in his ribs allowed the unruly water into his lungs. He was coughing the next time he surfaced, barely able to shout Albert's name.

He struggled to stay afloat, but finally the river leveled off. The water still deep and rushing on to the next set of rapids, but he had a moment to search. He shouted again and again, his eyes darting until he caught sight of a green coat, Albert's favorite, its owner barely struggling anymore. He swam towards Albert, arms circling his waist, and pulled his head out of the water. Water escaped his mouth as he weakly coughed.

"I've got you, Al, I've got you. Just hold on." Now Arthur just needed to swim to the bank, a daunting task bordering on nearly impossible. He remembered fishing Benedict Allbright out of the river the day he got his horse Dakota, and he tried not to think about the rapidly approaching rocks and the waterfalls farther down.

But one of the rocks he worried about turned out to be his savior. Kicking his way to safety, Arthur was able to catch hold. The action wrenched his shoulders as the river tried to drag Albert away from him, but he held on. He heaved himself and Albert onto the long, flat surface. From there, it was a simple step onto the safety of dirt and grass, but Arthur collapsed onto the rock with a groan, exhausted.

More coughing from Albert roused him, the man laying awkwardly on his side. "It's alright, let it out," Arthur said, patting his back to encourage more water out. "Guess I should have gone with you to take pictures of those eagles," he continued with a nervous chuckle.

A few more coughs, and then Albert quietly groaned, "Bugger the eagles. Let's go home."

Deciding to ignore their precarious position on the rock a little longer, Arthur pulled Albert up into a hug, one hand supporting his back and the other tangled in his hair. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Did he hurt you?"

"No, but he did talk incessantly," said Albert. "Actually, my wrists hurt."

Arthur moved to inspect Albert's bound hands. Fortunately his knife was still in its sheath on his hip. He cut through the ropes and rubbed Albert's wrists to get the blood flowing again. But soon Albert started shivering, so Arthur pulled him back into a tight hug.

His eyes drifted up to the cliff they both had been on just minutes ago. A man stood there, barely visible, but Arthur knew who it was by the distinct top hat. The strange man waved, like he knew Arthur would be watching.

"Arthur!" The shout came from a path, and smiling wide he turned in time to see Hosea and Silver Dollar. Hosea caught his eye, blinking at the rock and the two men on it, before laughing. "They're over here!" he called behind him. "They're okay!"

Arthur glanced back up at the cliff, but the strange man was gone. And in a way he knew that would be the last time he saw him. Then John and Sadie appeared, and Lenny and Eagle Flies, and then finally Dutch. His anger towards Dutch began to melt just a little at the fact that the man came back to find him, the first few cracks on an otherwise frozen lake.

Hosea stretched out his hand, and Arthur helped Albert to his feet just long enough so they both could sit on the grass. Noticing that Arthur was shivering as well, Hosea began ordering everyone around to get a fire started, fetch blankets, help those boys out of their wet clothes.

"I never, ever, in my life want to see you jump off a cliff again!" Hosea said as he wrapped the blanket around Arthur's shoulders. "In fact, stay away from all cliff edges! You've given me enough heart attacks this year."

"You saw that?"

"Yes! Came around the corner just in time to see you disappear."

"And Micah?"

"Dead. John saw to that."

"Unloaded my whole cylinder into him," John said. "Left him up there for the vultures."

Arthur looked up at Dutch, hoping that was enough to appease the man even if he didn't get to enact the revenge himself. But Dutch simply said, "Good." Lenny nodded as well from where he was crouched over the fire.

Snaking an arm out from under the blankets and around Albert's waist, Arthur leaned in close to the other man. Albert's head bobbed against his chest as he nodded off, and Arthur found himself quickly following. Soon, Hosea was encouraging him into some spare, dry clothes and onto the back of a horse. Arthur tried to help pull himself up, but there wasn't much he could do half-asleep. He drifted off on the ride leaned back against John.


Arthur woke up late the next morning under a pile of blankets with Albert snoring at his side. His muscles were sore, the side that hit the rock was bruised and throbbing, but none of that mattered to him. He could happily sleep the day and the pain away so long as he stayed next to Albert, warm and safe.

"You awake, son?" He was so tired he hadn't noticed Hosea was sitting with him.

"Barely," he muttered back, cracking his eyes open just a little.

"Good. We wanted to head back to the cabin today and it will be easier if at least one of you is conscious."

"Where are we?"

"The Wapiti reservation. Chief Rains Fall kindly let us spend the night, but I want to get back to our place."

"Overstayed our welcome, have we?" Arthur joked, but there was an uncomfortable look on Hosea's face. "What is it?"

"Dutch… is being Dutch. Talked with some folk about Cornwall, the government. Now he's talking to Eagle Flies, and I think it's best for everyone if we just move on."

Arthur sighed. Sure, he wasn't as angry with Dutch anymore, but that didn't mean he could trust him. Dutch looked for opportunity everywhere, especially in places he shouldn't as of late. "We can sleep in a little longer though, right?"

Hosea chuckled. "Don't worry, the others are taking their time collecting the wagon. You have at least an hour."

"Good." Arthur closed his eyes and snuggled into Albert, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Albert sighed and curled his fingers around Arthur's hand, still fast asleep.

A little over an hour later, Hosea returned, and Arthur took that moment to shake Albert awake. "Arthur?" Albert asked with a slight wheeze that turned into a round of coughing.

"You okay?" Arthur asked, a little frantic as he rubbed circles into Albert's back. Hosea came around and checked. His response was calm and reassuring. Just a cough from getting water in his lungs. They would watch it, but it would likely resolve itself in a few days.

"I'm surprised you don't have one either, or a cold!" Hosea said.

The coughing stopped, and Albert was able to sit up. "Are we leaving?" he asked.

"Just back to our cabin until we decide what to do," Arthur replied.

"I doubt we'll stay too long. John is itching to move on with his family now that his arm is healed," said Hosea. "Abigail wants a home of their own, maybe a small ranch. I have half a mind to go with them! I love John, but that boy will need some help. He's just learning how to be a father and he wants to add ranching to that?"

They walked out of the tent and were greeted by Sadie on top of the wagon and Dutch on The Count. The Marstons and Lenny were already back at the cabin. Despite his many protests, Hosea forced Arthur to sit in the back of the wagon with Charles and Albert, their horses following behind. But before he left, Arthur thanked Rains Fall and Eagle Flies, wishing them the best going forward, though knowing that their story would not have the happiest of endings.

Charles stared back at them as the wagon rolled over the wooden bridge. "I'd like to stay and help them, once my arm is healed."

"Those bastards, the Army, think they can walk all over them," Dutch said. "This is what's wrong with the world."

Arthur and Hosea exchanged a glance. They didn't say anything though, not yet, deciding to keep the ride peaceful.

They reached the cabin a few hours before sunset, and immediately Hosea said, "Okay, you two, back to bed. I don't want to see either of you until dinner." Arthur laughed at that, and couldn't bring himself to argue, either.

But once they were laid down in their bedrolls, just inches apart, Arthur said, "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure." Albert brought his hand up, his fingers brushing through Arthur's hair.

"I'm so sorry, I wish I had listened to you, gone with you. I wish… I just… I was so scared for my family that I didn't realize I was scaring you."

"I told you, though," Albert said. "A few times. It hurt knowing that you could get killed because of that gang. I want us both to be safe."

"I want the same-"

"But do you? You always worry about others and never yourself! And I love that you care so much, but please have some self-preservation."

Arthur grinned. "So no jumping off cliffs?"

"Well, I can't be too mad over that. I would have drowned for sure."

"It was Milton who sent Micah after you. Some men watching the Wapiti reported seeing us to the Pinkertons."

"If they know about us, does that mean… do I have a bounty?"

"No idea," Arthur said. He couldn't imagine Al having a poster. "Milton and Ross were the ones who knew you, and they are both dead now. But we should probably leave the area to be safe."

"And go where?"

"Wherever you want. You're the one with a job, remember?"

Albert hesitated, and said, "I just want to be sure that wherever we go, whatever we do, the gang isn't going to follow us there."

"There ain't even a gang anymore."

"I thought that last time."

"I know, I'm sorry, but this time it's for real," Arthur promised. "The Marstons have plans to leave, Bill and Javier are gone. I don't know what Lenny is planning, but I hope he goes with Hosea and John." At least until he was back on his feet. Lenny always was too smart for the gang.

"And Dutch?"

"I have no idea what his plan is. But it won't involve us. I promise."

"Does he know that?"

"If he doesn't, he will."

Albert continued running his fingers through Arthur's hair, which was almost free of tangles now. "You need a haircut."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Yes."

"We okay?"

"Yes, I think we are," Albert said.

They stayed in bed, lightly dozing, until Hosea collected them for dinner. The meal, however, was an awkward affair. Dutch's presence put a damper on their normal conversations. It became clear early in the evening that Dutch believed the gang could be reborn.

"Look at us! You, me, our sons! It's just like it was in the beginning. And that Sadie, oh she has a fire in her, I can see why you recommended her for jobs with us, Hosea. All of us together, we are unstoppable! This conflict between the natives and the Army, if there's a whole lot of smoke and chaos we can get some money and slip away!"

Arthur breathed in deep, about to shatter Dutch's hope, but John beat him to it. "Dutch, I'm taking my family and buying some land."

"What?"

"We want to settle down, raise the boy right," Abigail jumped in, one hand around Jack's shoulders and another petting Cain.

"And I want to take care of the O'Driscolls. Those bastards will pay for what they did to me and my husband," Sadie said.

Dutch brightened a little. "Did you hear the news? Colm will hang in Saint Denis!"

"I would like to be there to make sure he does," said Sadie.

"As would I," Dutch replied.

The camp grew quiet, since Lenny wasn't talking to Dutch and Hosea would likely let Dutch down gently later.

"You shouldn't get involved with the Wapiti," Charles said bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Dutch said.

"They're good people. I won't let you involve them in your plans to make money. They don't deserve that."

"Now you-"

"Dutch, stop," Hosea said, grabbing Dutch's arm and leading him off. Arthur followed. "It's over. The gang. I know you don't want it, but we've all decided. It's time to move on."

"How? How can you say that?"

"Dutch," Arthur said. "We had a good run."

Dutch sighed and shook his head. "I'd like to speak to Arthur alone, Hosea."

Hesitating, Hosea asked, "You okay with that?"

"Sure."

They both ignored how Hosea hung back only a few meters. But they stood in silence for a few moments, Dutch pacing in a short strides and Arthur kicking the dirt. Finally, Dutch asked, "When did you decide it was over? That you were never coming back?"

"I started seeing things different when Strauss sent me debt collecting. But I decided probably about a week after you pushed me," Arthur said. "I was up here, hunting and exploring. Part of me wondered if I could do that forever. Wanted to do it forever."

"I know you were angry about Strauss and his work, but you did change! We all saw it. It wasn't immediate, but a few weeks later, after we rescued Sean."

"It was after Strawberry," Arthur decided to say. No need to tell Dutch about the strange man or the cauldron, since he certainly didn't need that lecture. And the massacre led him to this part of the mountains to begin with. "Micah killed all those folk in town just to get his guns, and you didn't care. You just shrugged it off. He was a bastard that only looked out for himself and didn't believe in your ideals, like not killing innocents and helping others. You seemed surprised that Micah betrayed you, but I wasn't. And no one else was surprised, either. Hell, I don't know why you never saw it."

Dutch nodded slightly but didn't say a word.

"There is one thing I want to know, though," Arthur continued. "It's just… naw, it's stupid."

"What?"

"Probably nothing, but in Valentine, you didn't… what happened?"

"With Cornwall?"

"No, while you were pushing the wagon. I got shot."

Dutch's eyes narrowed. "And you think that was me?"

"No! Well, not at first. But after what happened with Susan, I started to wonder. And we had that fight right before."

"Arthur," Dutch said as he put his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Son, I would never. Now I know I was angry with you, but I would never shoot you."

Arthur swallowed and nodded. He hoped Dutch was telling the truth. "Just a stray bullet, then."

"Of course!" Dutch patted Arthur's shoulder and walked back to the others.

Their dinner continued, and Dutch intelligently did not bring up the Wapiti again. But at the end of the night, Dutch announced, "I believe it is time for me to go. I have some business I wish to take care of before Colm swings."

"Stay the night, at least," Hosea insisted.

"My staying may make some uncomfortable," Dutch said slowly, sending a not so subtle look towards Charles and Lenny.

"It's dark, there are Pinkertons!"

"Dutch," Arthur said, "If you don't want to stay in the main cabin, I get it. We have tents, bedrolls."

"I'll stay out here with you," Hosea offered.

"It's fine, Hosea," Dutch said.

"No, it's not," replied Hosea. "I'm not ready to say goodbye to you just yet, Dutch van der Linde!"

"You did it once before."

"And I wasn't ready then, either. We've been partners for over twenty years. Even if it's just a promise to write, I need something."

"How will we even write to each other?" Dutch asked. "None of you know where you are going!"

They needed a central location, Arthur thought. Some way to get each other's permanent addresses. He jumped up suddenly, digging through his satchel for a letter he knew was there. "Here, this is Mary-Beth's address," he said. "She and Kieran got an apartment in the city, and she opened a box at the post office." She gave them a return address when she let them know Tilly found her.

"Leslie Dupont?" Dutch asked.

"I'll have to ask her where she got the name from," Arthur laughed.

"We can stop by and ask her," Albert said. "We have to return to Saint Denis to close my apartment."

"And then what?" Dutch asked.

Arthur looked at Albert, who smiled back. "I was thinking bison," Albert said.

"I might be able to track a herd in New Hanover for you." Arthur draped an arm over Albert's shoulders and pulled him in close.

"I thought we were getting out of the area," Albert said with a small chuckle, leaning his head into Arthur.

"Oh, get a room, you two!" said Hosea.

Arthur, in a sarcastic droll, said, "We had one, then we got a lot of guests. Busier than a damn saloon."

"But you are staying, right?" Hosea asked Dutch.

"For tonight, then I'll go," Dutch conceded.

"Let me get the tent. It will be just like old times!"

"Just like old times?" Dutch asked with a playful smirk.

"Oh, stop it!"

Albert watched them leave, wondering aloud, "Were they ever, you know, together?"

"Probably," Arthur said.

Their goodbyes the next morning were short, with Dutch promising to send them some letters just to let them know he was alright. Normally, Arthur would just read the newspaper looking for the next big train or bank robbery, but this time he wasn't sure. Perhaps Dutch would actually lay low for once, being on his own.

A few days later, John Marston packed his family's belongings in their wagon under Abigail's watchful gaze as Cain and Jack took one last run through the fields. Arthur watched too, Hosea at his side.

"Don't you worry about them," Hosea said. "I'll make sure they're alright."

"Oh, I'm more worried about you, old man," Arthur teased.

"My job is finding John a nice piece of land and teaching Jack reading and writing. Those boys can do all the physical labor." Lenny joined John in packing the wagon, the two of them arguing on how best to stack the extra food.

"You ready for this? Bank loans and land deeds and selling at markets?"

"After all these years? It's like another adventure!"

Hosea patted Arthur on the shoulder and went to add his own things to the collection, though he didn't have much more than a few pictures and books.

Finally, it was time to say goodbye. Hugs were exchanged, tears were shed. But they were all happy tears for a family moving forward. They were all moving forward.

"Ready, John?" Arthur asked when it was his turn to hug his brother.

"I think I am. You'll visit, right?"

"Of course! You won't be able to keep us away." Arthur looked over towards Albert, or should he say Uncle Albert, talking with Jack. They may be avoiding the gang, but they would never avoid family.

After the wagon disappeared over the hill, Arthur turned to Albert, Charles, and Sadie. "Ready?"

They rode with Charles back to the Wapiti reservation before going to Saint Denis with Sadie. Albert's camera equipment was spread between Lucy and Baylock, and the stallion seemed to enjoy simply carrying baggage and not a rider.

When they reached the city, Sadie and Albert went to the post office and the apartment while Arthur looked for Mary-Beth and Kieran. He were met with a surprise at the door. Molly O'Shea sat with Tilly at the kitchen table, her eyes red and makeup running.

"We found her in Doyle's Tavern, completely drunk," Mary-Beth whispered to Arthur at the door.

"Hey Molly," Arthur said gently.

"Oh, hey Arthur," she said. A stained handkerchief was clutched in her hands.

"What happened?" he asked. "You weren't with the others after the bank robbery."

"He didn't come looking for me," she muttered.

"Who?"

"Dutch. They kept me for days, those Pinkertons."

"What! They didn't hurt you, did they?" Arthur asked, his eyes sweeping over her for bruises.

"No, they just asked questions. But Dutch, he never came for me," she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Molly. Things got difficult after the robbery."

"I was there for days before! They kept asking me, I never said, I thought he would come," she cried. "They let me go after."

"I'm so sorry."

"I wanted to tell them. I wanted to hurt Dutch, but I didn't. I swear!"

"I believe you, Molly. It's going to be okay."

He left Molly with Tilly, who attempted to console the poor girl in vain. To Mary-Beth, he said, "You'll take care of her?"

"Of course. It may take her a while to get over Dutch. What happened, anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

Mary-Beth held up the day's newspaper, and the front page article said it all.

CORNWALL MURDERED!

DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS IN STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
ASSASSIN AMBUSHES RICH MAN IN ANNESBURG.

"It was Dutch, wasn't it?" Mary-Beth asked, and Arthur just knew. So much for laying low.

He sat down with all three of them, and they talked about everything that happened, from their time up in the mountains, Dutch's return and Susan's death, and finally what happened with Albert and Micah. Midway through the story, they were interrupted by Kieran's return from his job, the man managing fine with just one eye.

"And now Albert and I are down here to grab some things from his apartment, and then we're off."

"You think they'll catch Dutch?" Kieran asked.

"Maybe," Arthur said. "He did want to watch Colm hang."

"Perhaps I'll see him there," said Kieran.

"Just be careful. Knowing the O'Driscolls, they will have some folk in the crowd to try to spring him."

"Where are you going, Arthur?" Tilly asked.

"No idea. Guess we will wander looking for wildlife to photograph. What about all of you? You staying here?"

"I think so," Kieran said. "I like my job at the stable. Thank you for that! I really love that Arabian you found in the mountains. She's going to foal next year!"

"That's great news!"

"I've started writing," Mary-Beth added. "Not much, just silly romances. I'm want to publish them, but I'm going to use a pen name, Leslie Dupont."

"I was wondering about that on your letter. Speaking of, I gave your address to the others. I was hoping you could collect them all and send us everyone's permanent addresses."

"Of course!"

"And Tilly? What's your plan?"

Before she could reply, Mary-Beth jumped in and said, "Oh, there's a man!"

"Really?"

"Yes," said Tilly. "He's real nice, a lawyer."

After chatting for a while, Arthur realized it was time to depart if he wanted to get dinner with Albert. By the time he arrived, after standing at the door saying goodbye for what felt like an hour, Albert had most of his equipment packed.

"Mary-Beth and Kieran alright?" Albert asked when he entered.

"Just fine. You get any mail?

"Yes! Copies of the photographs from Wapiti and payment from the gallery sales. They said if I expand my portfolio they would be happy to display my work again."

Albert passed Arthur the pictures. "Mighty fine," Arthur said. "I think you can stop calling yourself an amateur now."

"You know, after the bison, I was thinking about New Austin."

"New Austin? Really?"

"Where else will we find rattlesnakes?"

"Al…"

"And I heard about this cougar."

"NO!"


They were riding near Flatneck Station when Albert spotted it. A gorgeous buck with huge set of antlers.

"Mind if we stop?" Albert asked, already getting off Dakota and grabbing his tripod.

"Not at all." Arthur began digging through his own satchel, looking for some bait, but the buck didn't run. It grazed calmly while Albert set up, and raised its head at Arthur's whistle.

At the flash, the buck darted away into the bushes, and Arthur and Albert stood side by side watching it go.

"Ready for the next adventure?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, I think so," Albert said, taking Arthur's hand and giving it a squeeze. They returned to the horses, and rode onward.