It was dark out. No moon to use as a guide, nor stars to help navigate. A lone man in a cowboy hat walked In solitude. He had neither horse nor gun but he hardly needed them where he was going. After all, who would want to mess with him? John Marston's walk was slow and each step he took seemed to make it harder to take the next. He couldn't help but wonder if his sacrifice was worth it.
John shouldn't have any regrets. His wife and son had survived in this lawless country despite all the odds against before. And with him gone, the government would have no reason to go after them. But after everyone he had been killed, he couldn't shake the feeling that the rest of his family had died for nothing.
Bill had been an idiot, but he used to be a good man. It was the law that had pushed and pushed him till he finally broke. And Javier? What chance did a Mexican have of living a straight life in America? None.
He hoped Jack and Abigail would be able to forgive him someday. The lies he told them were out of a need to keep them safe. But that didn't excuse lying and giving them false hope. They deserved the truth.
Keeping truths hidden, lying to people in the name of their safety, killing folk for his own benefit. Was he any better than Dutch? The only real difference he could think of was he was using the law as cover. Hell, that made him even worse as at least Dutch didn't commit his murder under the protection of wealthy politicians who had been born with silver spoons in their mouths.
As he walked through the black wasteland John saw a light of a fire above the skyline. While he knew it was a bad idea, there was something drawing him towards it. And like a moth to a flame, his tired feet moved on their own, bringing him closer to the fire.
To his surprise it was a campfire with a lone figure who was cooking meat over the open flame.
As he approached his surprise only increased as he saw a familiar figure by the flame. One he had been wanting to speak to for years now.
"Arthur?" John's shaky voice caused the other man to chuckle. "You look tired, Marston. I'm guess' you've had a rough go with the government after they finished using you as their personal dog." Arthur's response caught him by surprise. How had he known about all that?
"Bill came through here not that long ago." Arthur replied as if he had read John's mind. "Javier too. Told me the stuff you got up too. Seriously? Standing in front of Bill when he has a gun and try'n to talk him down? I'm starting to think you like mortal injuries." John felt a pang of nostalgia. That was definitely Arthur Morgen.
"Really? This coming from the man who tried to fight off the strongest gang in the west, an army of Pinkertons, and a complete psychopath bastard, all while you were sick with TB? You're lucky I went through the trouble of avenging your sorry ass!" John's words held no real bite.
"Well, I did save your sorry life more than once. I'd say ya owe me a favor or two." Arthur retorted. "Then again, I got a hero's death where you died look'n like a fool. So maybe I should have just let ya get eat'n by wolves. Then your sorry ass would have been put to something useful."
The two men laughed as John took a seat next to Arthur, who gave him some of the meat he had cooked, the same soup Pearson always made when Arthur brought back high quality meat.
"So, if it's okay, I'm gonna cut right to the chase." John said as he began eating. "Which one am I go'n to? If you're here, then I'm hoping the good one, but we've both done some pretty messed up shit. So I won't be surprised either way."
"Jesus! All theses years and ya still talking way to much." Arthur said as he finished his first bowl and filled it again. "Ya know, I've been here a while, and from what I've gathered, it an't either."
John looked up in surprise. He wasn't expecting that.
"What? You thought I'd drag myself out of a perfectly comfy after life just t see your dumb ass again?" Arther said as if he had read John's mind. "God no! I an't waste'n my time. Got plenty of people counting on me to provide for them."
John did a double take. "I'm sorry, what?" He said even more confused. Was Arther running with some kind of ghost gang? Was there even such a thing?
"It's nothing big." Arther answered." Just help'n folk with lingering regret come to peace with themselves. You know me, can't say no to someone in need. Even if I really, really want to." He chuckled at the thought of some of the colorful people he had met.
John laughed. "Yeah, I think that might have rubbed off on me. Been with some weird folk after you died. And done some things I'd rather not." He paused for a second scratching his chin. "Still, most of the time everything worked out. I guess I can't complain."
The two fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to eat Arthur's food.
After several minutes, the older cowboy broke the silence. "So, how are Charles and Sadie doing? Haven't seen them yet, so they must be alright." John looked up and smiled at the mention of their old friends.
"Their fine. Charles' lost the feds by disappearing into Canada. Haven't heard much from him, but as the US can't go after him, he's probably fine." John chuckled at the thought of his old friend. "And Sadie? Hah! She still kick'n around. She was never a high priority target for most part. And the ones who did have her on their lists are too dead to do much about it. They both have a long life ahead of them."
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Arthur chuckled. "Feds are only interested in the fighters or famous targets. No glory for catching the one without a bounty. Especially not one as bloodthirsty as Mis. Adler. No amount of money would make me go after her."
The two shared another laugh as they eased back into the logs they were sitting on, and before long, they finished the food.
"Well, I guess that's it for this meal." Arthur said, setting his plate by the fire and leaning back against the log, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. "Now, let's get down to business. John, I'm gonna be straight with you, while I would have been here of my own accord, someone did ask me to come and meet with you. And, well, let's just say I an't stupid enough to cross them."
Interest peaked, John set his bowl down as well and turned to face Arthur. He had no idea what he could mean by being afraid to cross someone given the fact he was…well dead. Was there some kind of dead…death? Or were all the stories about hell true? Either way, he was very interested.
"Now, this…person told me that unlike me, he wanted to give you a choice on how you want to proceed." Arthur said in a serious tone. "See, I don't really know what comes after…this, but he does. And he told me to tell you this. He wants you to make a choice. You can stay here and help me take care of wayward souls, not that different from us. Or you can, go on the next boat to Tahiti."
John let out a laugh at that. "Seriously, you still push'n that dream? Pick'n fruit in the orchards of paradise? Surely you can think I'd be willing to go and try that after all the times I got shot over it."
"Well, if it makes a difference, Dutch choice to catch that boat." Arthur said, silencing John in a heartbeat. "Old Hosea came back to pick him up, Annabelle too. When I took him to the ferry, they welcomed him with open arms. Tell'n him he didn't need to fight no more. And well, just like gravity, he went with them willingly. Even tossing his weapons into the ocean saying he was done."
"Really? Our Dutch? That's hard to picture." John didn't bother hiding the disbelief in his voice. "Last I recall, he tried to kill me more times than the government. And he came a lot closer than most."
"Years weren't kind to him, that's for sure." Arthur said, tossing his cigarette onto the ground. "But I think death can be a humbling experience. Or maybe that boat took him to the bad place, I don't know. Either way, I'd like to believe he got some closure for all his pain. And for all the pain he caused. Everyone deserves some dignity at the moment of their end. Or at least that's what I believe."
Calmly, the older cowboy stood up and dusted himself off before beginning to gather the camp's equipment.
"But that's neither here nor there. Where Dutch ended up is something I'll only know when I get on that boat myself. As for you, well you got a decision to make." With that, he snapped his fingers and immediately a railroad approached next to him, with the whistle of a train coming from not too far down the tracks. "So, what'll it be? Stay here for god knows when the next boat shows up, or get a ticket and see what's waiting on the other side. What'll it be, John?"
Said man stood as well, dusting himself off as he looked at his brother. But he didn't have time to answer as the next second, an old steam engine came to a stop next to the camp, its whistle blowing as the doors opened revealing the empty interior.
"What about you?" John asked, not even looking at the train. Instead fixing his eyes on Arthur who pulled his hat low over his eyes.
"Unfortunately, I didn't quite get off as easily as you." He replied with a chuckle. "Even if the whole gang's waiting for me, I can't go yet. Not until I help everyone else get there. So I'll be here for the foreseeable future."
Arthur calmly walked over to John and put his hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze.
"But don't worry 'bout me. I can take care of myself. And besides, now that I'm all better, I can get a few more adventures in before retiring. Besides, there's still a very special lady who I'm waiting for. Can't have some other random snuck showing and sweeping her off her feet before me, can I?"
John nodded in understanding. Maybe Arthur had gotten his second chance after all. He always enjoyed helping others a bit too much.
Quietly, he turned to the train and began making his way towards it, discarding his weapons belt as he went. Where he was going, he wouldn't need them anymore.
As he put one foot on the step to board, John stopped and looked back at the man who he owned so much of his life to as he whistled calling a horse from the darkness. He had so many things he still wanted to say, some many things to thank him for. But he was just so tired and the site of a bar car was just too inviting to the exhausted man.
But then, maybe he'd have time later.
"Hey Arthur." John called as said man saddled up. "I know you said someone asked you to make me choose, and I have. But would it be okay if I just stayed on the train for a little while. Just until Abigail gets here. We could use the time to catch up, let me tell you about what you missed. And I mean from my perspective, not Bill's."
Arthur stared up at John, surprise clear on his face. Then it changed to the grin his brother had missed so much.
"So let me get this straight." Arthur said with mock irritation. "You want me to go out and do all the hard work while you sit back drink'n fine whiskey with your feet kicked up on the table? Hah! You haven't changed one bit since we've been run'n with Dutch! Still content to make me do all the heavy lift'n!"
"It ain't like that anymore, Arthur." John retorted, a smile now across his face. "I get it now. With you gone, it was me who had to do all the save'n and the like. And after running a farm for a few years, I'm finally start'n to appreciate all the work you did back in those days. I can barely take care of one kid plus Uncle. And yeah, he was stay'n with us for a good long while."
Arthur let out a chuckle as his horse pawed at the dirt, impatiently waiting for a chance to run.
"Aww, the hell with it. Sure, I could use the company." Arthur waved his had dismissively, trying to play it off like he didn't care, but John could see him still smiling even as he turned his head down to cover his face with his hat.
"It'll just be a decade or two, no big drama. Time don't work the same way here as it does out there. So I guess I could put up with your freeloading for a bit. Just make sure to save me a beer and get those stories ready, they better be good given how much time we're going to have." With that, Arthur turned his horse and with a single spur, they rode off into the darkness, disappearing from sight.
John let out a chuckle as he watched him disappear. It reminded him of when they had been running with Dutch. Arthur would often go off on his own and come back with a ton of money, food, or some new trophy he'd won off some poor sap who had crossed him.
Back then, he had thought of Arthur as little more than a show off or a yes man rubbing his rank as Dutch's top enforcer. But after being forced into that position himself, he understood it was much more a burden then an honor.
But before he could dwell on those thoughts a loud whistle echoed from the train. The next second, it lurched forward as more tracks magically appeared in front of it.
John quickly got inside before could pick up enough speed that he would be thrown off. And the moment he stepped in, he felt like he had been transported to a completely different place.
First, he couldn't even feel the train moving, nor hear the bellow of the engine. What's more, it was so much more spacious than the car physically carry. It looked like a full Casino with games, a bar, and even an upper landing with sleeping quarters. The chips you'd normally have to pay for were already stacked in neat rows next to faceless dealers who John somehow knew weren't going to cheat.
It was a gambler's paradise, for sure. But right now, the old gunslinger only wanted one thing, to rest his aching body.
Slowly, he made his way up the stairs and into one of the rooms. There he found a bed that was just firm enough for him and a standing bar he knew he'd hit later.
Wordlessly, he collapsed onto the bed without bothering to take off his clothes. He was just so tired and his body ached from each of the many bullets that riddled his body.
As he drifted into the warm embrace of slumber, his mind wandered once again to his family, Abigail, Jack. He wondered how well they were doing and when he'd see them again. And while a part of him wanted it to be for a good many years, another part had the suspense that it would be sooner than he expected.
After all, Arthur had said time worked differently here. And while he didn't know exactly what was different, so maybe, just maybe, their reunion was right around the corner.