Run and Don't Look Back
Arthur got off in Saint Denis and immediately set out for Copperhead Landing. It wasn't a far distance, but he felt himself struggling enough getting there. He didn't know what he'd say once he got there, he never was a man for words. He always figured his gun did most of the speaking.
Sweating through the southern humidity, Arthur made his way up to the landing where he noticed a couple tents. Hidden from view, he approached them slowly, ensuring it was his people. When he was sure it was, he came out and said, "I believe you got something of mine, John."
All eyes turned and fixed on him, they couldn't believe it. They didn't at first, but that distinct voice told them it was true. Arthur had lived.
"Arthur!" Both John and Sadie had jumped up and ran to him. Abigail and Tilly had stood up, tears filling their eyes, still in complete shock.
"Alrigh' alrigh', easy now. I'm barely whole." Although John had loosened his embrace, Sadie held on to him tight, like she'd never see him again. She thought she'd seen him for the last time. Nothing could stop her tears and embrace..
"Arthur Morgan, you come back from the dead and expect me to be easy on you?" Sadie said, her voice barely stable with tears streaming down her cheek.
"Everyon' ok?" asked Arthur, looking at John who was still in disbelief.
"Yeah, we all made it. Jack's still asleep… well, I reckon if he is he won't be much longer."
Abigail and Tilly had come up to Arthur, embracing him with tears.
"I hoped but didn't think—" Abigail began, but Arthur interceded, "It's alrigh' now. It's over… Micah's dead, and Dutch… well Dutch has run off." A look of sadness and betrayal came over Arthur, but he was grateful that Dutch didn't take his life and allowed him to finish off Micah.
"I can't believe after all them years, Dutch just turned his back on us." said John angrily.
"He ain't right in the head, hasn't been for some time, y'know that… But I must say, it is good to see you again, John Marston."
John had walked up to the injured Arthur and both embraced for what felt like the first time in their lives. It probably wasn't much time for that among the men in a gang of outlaws.
Arthur felt a weight had truly been lifted from within him. Of course had he died on that hill, he would've thought he helped John escape with his family for a new life, but he never would've known for sure. Now he does.
"Come on Arthur, let's take a look at you" said Sadie as she led Arthur into her tent with Tilly and Abigail.
Examining his cuts, broken nose, bruised ribs and other fractured parts of his body, Sadie had ripped off his shirt and brought in a bucket of hot water.
"It doesn't look too bad Arthur, but it's gonna hurt bad." said Sadie softly.
"Heh, don't gotta tell me twice." replied Arthur, who was relieved to feel some warm water run across his body. Tilly began cleaning up the cuts on his face as Abigail examined his broken nose. Sadie had been running the warm towel across his dirty body.
After some time, Abigail got up to check on Jack, and Tilly left the tent soon after. Still weak and with little energy in him, Arthur looked at Mrs. Adler and told her, "I'm glad you made it, Sadie." He touched her cheek, and she slowly stopped wiping him as he did. He knocked out right after, and Sadie was left alone with Arthur, smiling as he fell asleep. She kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the tent.
Later that evening, John came into Sadie's tent, where Arthur had been asleep for most of the day, with Arthur's hat and satchel.
"Here you go, my friend" John said as he walked up to Arthur, who had been badly bruised yet managed a soft smile. "Your head's a little too big for me." said John in a joking tone.
"Figured as much" grunted Arthur, who felt like his entire body had been broken. "John, listen to me, I got some money, and it ain't much, but we could push West from here and look for something… Something better. This life, it's over. You got a family. It's time to let the past be what it is, the past.."
John, who had been listening intently, said a few seconds later, "We never was made for civilized life Arthur.. It's gonna be different, it's gonna be.. hard"
"Well what aint?" responded Arthur. He had begun to get up when John went over to help him stand. "I reckon anything worth keepin' is worth fightin' for. This more than anythang.
"This life we've lived… we're lucky it didn't take us with it. An honest man's road ain't one I've ever truly walked…" Arthur stopped for a moment, "but I know with each other, with them..." he motioned toward the camp, where Abigail, Jack, Sadie, and Tilly had been, "...we'll figure it out. No matter how long it takes…"
John, amazed at how ready Arthur was to leave behind everything they knew for so long, nodded and said, "Come on, got some boar cookin'. Got the damn thing with one arrow earlier, believe that?"
"Hardly" responded Arthur, with a grin on his face. He came out to see Sadie and Abigail around the fire, and Tilly off playing with Jack.
"Glad to see you're okay, Arthur, but I think you ought to be back in bed, you need rest." protested Sadie, but Arthur put his hand on her shoulder and said "I can walk a few steps and eat a lil', Mrs. Adler." She smiled and pulled up a chair for him.
All six of them began to eat, and with the sun going down and the weather getting somewhat cooler, John said, "Arthur and I been talking… We think it best that the lot of us move out West, toward Strawberry, and set up there for a while. This life we've lived.." He looked around at each of them, and continued, "Well, it's more or less done. If we run into any trouble, or folks tryna take from us, we'll do what we need to. But the robberies, the unnecessary bloodshed, the blackmail… that's all behind us."
Looks of agreement went around the fire, and Sadie, sitting next to Arthur, held his hand gently.
"I've got some money I was saving up once I felt like the gang was near its end. It's not enough for a lifetime, but we can get by with it for a time." said Arthur.
"How much?" asked Abigail.
Arthur looked around the fire then straight at Abigail, "Five thousand."
John, choking on his drink, said "Jeez, Arthur! How did you come across so much?"
"Saved it, I suppose. Found a couple of treasures throughout the Grizzlies. Decided to put it away and not see any of it til it was absolutely needed." and with that, he said no more of it.
"I think it's a fine plan," started Tilly, "but I, like you Arthur, have saved a little sum myself. It ain't as much, but I think I'm gonna stay in Saint Denis. Find something for me here. Find myself a husband. Love again. Live again."
The camp grew quiet, and after a few moments, Arthur spoke, "If you're sure about this, Miss Tilly, I won't stop you. Yous been a good girl, a fine young woman. You gonna make someone a very happy man."
"And if he ain't sweet on you, he'll have us to answer to!" said John, motioning toward Arthur and himself. Tilly couldn't help but smile.
"Didn't you just go on about how that life was over?" uttered Abigail.
A laughter filled the camp, and John retorted, "You're right, darling. Perhaps some of it will never be truly gone."
John helped the ladies clean up as Jack went up to Arthur and said, "Uncle Arthur, I'm glad you're ok!" and gave him a hug.
"My boy, am I glad to see you haven't changed a bit." uttered Arthur. Jack let go and went into his tent, where Abigail had gone soon after.
"Mrs. Adler, I hate to deprive a lady of her bed. I'll go ahead and sleep out here by the fire." said Arthur, as he began to sit down.
"Don't be foolish, Arthur. I don't mind sharing it."
Taken aback, Arthur said, "Oh, ehm, okay then, Sadie." a little red in the face. Sadie noticed and looked away with a grin, hiding her own blush.
John retreated into his tent with his family, while Miss Tilly slid into her smaller sized half tent. Arthur went in after Sadie, and decided to not undress as he normally would before sleeping. He knew what he felt toward her, but a part of him always held back. He remembered how things went with Mary, and was afraid he'd be cast aside again. She's different, though he thought. She is accepting of me, and said I was the second best man she ever knew. She's a widow though… I don't know…
They both laid for the night. Arthur did his best to segregate himself from her. He did his best to suppress his inner feelings, but her mere presence made it extremely difficult.
She spoke to him of his injuries, and how they shouldn't move out until he was better healed. He conceded, and said he definitely doesn't mind the company. She shot him a look of comfort and surprise. She ran her hand through his hair, and turned away to sleep.
Hey, if you've gotten to this point thanks for reading! Got some big plans for the crew coming up. I've been working hard on formulating the best characterization possible, especially for Sadie and Arthur. Writing Abigail and John isn't the most difficult thing, just throw in some bickering and it's halfway there. I'm trying to explore the soft side to some characters that we didn't get to fully witness. Stay tuned for chapter three!
