Arthur sagged into the horse's saddle, dropping his shoulders in relief. After nearly two months had passed, maybe even more, being back in West Elizabeth on familiar soil nearly brought him to tears as the cool wind whipped past his burning red face. The sun was high in the sky, when he'd arrived on land from the ship it was still early morning, meaning it'd taken him quite a few hours to get as close to the gang as he was. They'd left behind a note at Shady Belle on the living room table, a cleverly worded letter signaling him their current location. When he'd gotten there and seen that it was a quiet as a ghost town he'd felt his heart sink until he found the letter, then he ran upstairs to his and Evelyn's room to find another. In delicate looped handwriting and the smell of perfume Evelyn had written out a heartfelt letter, short but sweet.
Dearest,
Though I know you are off on the grandest of adventures,
I do so find myself longing for your presence. The nights
have been long and cold without your touch. Not a day
passes by where I do not think fondly of you.
I pray that you find yourself back home when you are
done.
~ Forever yours,
Nicole
With shaking hands Arthur folded the letter, still wafting in the old scent of perfume, and tucked it away into his pocket. Though the letter was signed off with the name Nicole, he knew it was from Evelyn, much like how the letter downstairs was obviously written by Sadie. He chuckled fondly. Shortly after discovering the note he was ambushed by Pinkerton agents searching the house. They'd been gathering there nearly every day much to the distain of the agents themselves. Thankfully they seemed pretty confident that nobody was there, allowing Arthur to sneak away undetected. Sadie's letter hinted at them being in a small hovel in the Bayou Nwa, so that was where Arthur ushered his borrowed horse to. Keeping his head low and avoiding the busier roads Arthur stopped at the small village of Lagras where he inquired about the location in the letter. A kind fella who recognized him as the man who helped Thomas pointed him in the right direction.
The spot he was looking for is called Lakay, an old, abandoned village neighboring close to Lagras. Arthur absentmindedly chuckled, the place sounded perfect if it weren't for the abundance of alligators, snapping turtles, and boot-sucking mud. He glared ahead of him against the blinding rays of the sun. Ahead in a hazy blur he could see the form of buildings and could hear the tired calling of horses. He wasn't quite sure he was in the right spot, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to continue forward and maybe ask around if the folk seemed nice enough. As he got closer he began to notice a figure standing out by the horses. The moist sound of his horse's hooves being sucked in by the hot mud alerted the woman. As he approached her and his vision adjusted to the blinding sun he could see clearly that the woman was Evelyn.
She stood ahead of him, hand braced over her holster on her hip and her feet planted shoulder width apart. Her skin was slightly sunburnt and her face was cast over by a shadow from what he recognized as his hat atop her head, her ebony hair haphazardly braided and trailing down her back. His heart soared, his lungs skipping a breath and he clumsily dismounted. In this moment she looked as beautiful as he remembered, if not even more so with her wide blue eyes and her soft lips parted in a whispered gasp. In a split second, as his booted feet squelched into the mud, his arms opened and Evelyn crashed into his chest, throwing him off balance in his weakened state and sending them tumbling to the ground. Arthur groaned and gave a weak chuckle as the woman crushed him in her embrace, burying her nose in his neck and bracing her weight on her knees that were straddling him on either side of his waist.
he pat her back, returning the embrace with as much energy as he could muster.
"Howdy, miss." He greeted. Evelyn rose from her position on his chest, sitting back on her knees. She looked at him from above, her face shadowed against the rays of the sun but he could still see her blazing blue eyes searching his face. Tears tracked down her tanned skin.
"Arthur Morgan... I nearly believed you were dead." She finally whispered out. Arthur sighed, grabbing a stray lock that escaped her braid.
"I nearly was. Several times. A lot happened, Evelyn." He said grimly. Remembering the past two months wasn't something he enjoyed. Evelyn nodded, grabbing his rough calloused hand and bracing it against her cheek.
"You look awful." She said simply, a teasing smile on her face. Arthur chuckled.
"You finally noticed?" He joked back, reveling at the sound of her soft giggle. She clambered off of him, offering him a hand and helping him to stand. He kept ahold of her hand and lead her over to Midnight whose ears perked towards him happily and whinnied. He pat the mare's neck, whispering reassuring greeting to the mare who nipped at his hair and clothing. He turned back to Evelyn and gestured to the building he guessed everyone else was in. "Ought to say hello to everyone else I 'spose. Assumin' Sadie doesn't shoot me on the spot, from the kind words in her letter." He joked. Evelyn shrugged and led him to the house, her hand still wrapped tightly around his.
She swung the door open, stepping to the side and dropping his hand. She gestured to him, and called out loudly:
"Look who's back!" The gangs head snapped over to her, then immediately to Arthur. Smiles broke out amongst everyone as they rushed to greet him. Hugs were exchanged along with greetings and questions. Abigail, overjoyed to see him rushed over to him and grasped his hand.
"Arthur! I can't believe you're back!" She greeted happily, before her expression sobered. "Arthur, they got John." She started. Arthur nodded, accepting a cup of water from Pearson.
"They ain't hang him yet?" He asked. Sadie crossed her arms and leaned against the wall beside Evelyn who had Annabell in her arms.
"They will soon. Got him holed up in Sisika Penitentiary, workin' on a chain gang. Ain't got long I reckon." She said seriously. Arthur considered her words tiredly, nodding. Miss Grimshaw lead him over to the small table they had set up and urged him to sit down. Evelyn gestured to Arthur and set Annabell onto her feet, tasking the girl with fetching him some food. Annabell happily obliged, tugging Jack along with her who was in a better mood now then he'd been since everything went down. Though everyone was eager to get details from Arthur it was clear that he needed some rest first. Annabell and Jack handed him a bowl of watery stew, their eyes wide as they took in his rugged appearance. Guarma wasn't kind to the men, Arthur having grown out his hair and beard longer than anyone had seen it before, his white shirt was ripped to shreds and stained with mud and bloodstains and his face still held a red flush from the unforgiving sun. Arthur gestured for the children to sit alongside him as he delved into his meal.
As the hours ticked by more of the missing men found their way home, Micah who received a half-hearted greeting, then Javier who joyously caught up with everyone shortly after. The three men opted to catch up on sleep now that they were in the safety of the gang, Micah and Javier lounging on two of the hammocks, and Arthur who propped up lazily against the wall on a pallet of straw with Annabell shyly tucking herself under his arm and recounting the last two months to him quietly as he dozed off. Everyone jumped to attention when Dutch strolled through the door, the humid night air blowing in behind him, his hair and clothes weighed flat against him from the rain.
"Dutch! Dutch, they got John!" Abigail cried out first, rushing to the mans side who tried placating her with a hand on her arm.
"Okay, okay." He said. Pearson who was in the back room preparing dinner entered the gathering area, a glass bottle in his hand and clearly intoxicated. The three sleeping men had awoken and walked over to greet Dutch as well.
Dutch laughed in relief, patting everyone on the shoulder. "How'd you folks find each other? Can someone bring me a cup of coffee?" He asked. Tilly rushed up to retrieve some coffee and Strauss gestured over to Sadie, Evelyn, and Charles.
"Mrs. Kings, Mrs. Adler, and Mr. Smith were the ones who saved us, Dutch. After the robbery in Saint Denise, they all got us away before the Pinkertons turned up. Then, they brought us here!" Strauss praised. The mentioned three waved off the praise, Evelyn blushing heavily at the attention. Arthur chuckled and came up behind her, holding Annabell, who was still groggy from their nap, on his hip. Dutch nodded to them.
"Well then, we owe you three." Dutch said, raising his cup to them followed by cheers from everyone else. "Thank you." He added earnestly.
"It's been real hard without you, Dutch. We been livin', but barely. What are we gonna do?" Tilly piped up, her demeanor darkening. Dutch sighed, taking a slow sip of his coffee.
"Things have been tough... There ain't no doubt about that. Trust me, I am gonna get us outta here." He paused to look everyone in the eyes. "This ain't over."
Micah interjected, bantering lightly with Abigail who rolled her eyes and opted to avoid him. "They buried Hosea, Dutch. Lenny too. Nice and proper, it was real nice." She said softly. Dutch sighed heavily, nodding. He looked away, and before he could say anything he was cut off by Bill bursting through the door.
"Well here you is!" He shouted, pacing across the floor angrily. Everyone looked at him in slight confusion at his anger. Arthur sighed. "I asked everyone I could find and eventually someone knew. Said you fools were out here." He gestured angrily in the general direction of the women, where Tilly sat near Sadie who was shoulder to shoulder with Evelyn.
"Shit." He spat. "Someone get me a drink or something." He demanded loudly. Sadie uncrossed her arms and stepped towards him.
"Get your own damn drink!" She growled. Bill stumbled back slightly and Dutch stepped forward to diffuse the situation.
"In our absence Mrs. Adler here has been looking after things." He handed Bill his coffee that was still nearly full. "Now sit down." He commanded.
Just as Bill sat down a voice called from outside.
"This is Agent Milton with the Pinkerton Detective Agency!"
Thanks to Sadie and Arthur taking the initiative of the attack head-on, then to his credit, Bill joining not too long after, the Pinkertons were driven out with no casualties. Bodies lay scattered, the blood mixing with the rainwater and swirling in grim circles cross the muddy ground. A fire had started in the main house but thanks to the high humidity, rainwater, and the fact that the house was surrounded by swamp water Abigail and Evelyn were able to keep the flames down with the help of Pearson. The gang gathered outside, taking in the sickening sight of the now grave site. Evelyn rushed to check over the trio, patting down Sadie Arthur and Bill to check for injuries. Behind them Dutch spurred Pearson and Miss Grimshaw into action, having them begin preparations for when they move camp then sending Bill and Javier to scare off any loitering Pinkertons. Arthur leaned back against a wagon, Dutch joining him to rest his arms on the edge.
"What now, Dutch?" Arthur asked, still panting from the battle. Dutch shook his head.
"We just need some time. I just... I-I need some time." He answered, frazzled and stuttering. "Now we can't go east. 'Cause then we'd be in the ocean. So, we're gonna go north, I guess?" He mumbled questioningly, his eyes far away as he planned out their next moves in his head. "I just need someone to buy me some-" Evelyn jumped as Dutch slammed his fist down onto the wood. "Goddamn time, one of you." He gestured to Arthur and Micah who had been standing a pace away.
"You'll figure it out boss, you always do." Micah assured him. Evelyn came to stand by Arthur who nodded at her in greeting. She gave him a look that said they needed to talk, alone. He nodded. She sucked in a breath as Abigail came charging in, heading straight for Dutch.
"What are we gonna do about John, Dutch?" She pleaded.
"John?" He questioned.
"He's in jail, Dutch, he ain't got much time-" Dutch cut her off, lifting his arms in a calming gesture.
"W-w-we'll get him..." He said, his voice pitched high and weary. "Abigail, just not yet." Arthur and Evelyn exchanged worried glances. Abigail crossed her arms, frustrated.
"There's talk of hangin' him!" She urged, raised her voice. Dutch brushed her off, dismissing her.
"It ain't gonna come to that." Abigail yelled after him, just to be dismissed again as he retreated into the house. She looked to Evelyn, Sadie and Arthur hopelessly who were watching the exchange.
"I'm begging you, He's-" She gasped, tears forming in her eyes as she clung to Sadie and Arthur's sleeves. "They're gonna hang him. It would break my- the boy's heart. Please." Sadie laid a reassuring hand on her arm.
"We'll get him." She answered. As Abigail walked away Sadie turned to Arthur and sighed.
"Okay. We're gonna figure out how to break the poor bastard out."
Arthur scoffed. "Now?" Sadie glared at him.
"Yes, now. Meet me at Doyle's Tavern on Millyonne Avenue. Tomorrow." She instructed, leaving no room for argument as she marched away.
"What's wrong, Arthur?" Evelyn asked quietly, staring at the man from across the campfire. The rest of the gang slept uneasily in the house, Arthur and Evelyn on first shift of watch duty. Arthur shifted uneasily, poking at the fire with a stick causing sparks to fly and pop. Evelyn waited for response as he silently collected his thoughts.
"It just don't feel right." He finally answered. His eyes were far away, blankly reflecting the flickering flames.
"What don't?"
Arthur gestured with a wave of his hand vaguely around them. "Just... All of this. Everything that's happened, I guess. Somewhere along the line of tryin' to save ourselves I think we signed our death certificates. Pinkertons hot on our heels, Hosea, Lenny, Sean, Kieran, dead. Dutch..." He paused to sigh. He looked into Evelyn's eyes grimly and lowered his voice. She had to strain to hear him. "Somethin's happened with Dutch. I don't know for sure what but, he's changed. He ain't the Dutch he was when you first met him. When he raised me. He barely flinched when Hosea and Lenny died, he ain't even worried 'bout John." He scoffed in disbelief. "In Guarma, he shot an old woman from the back. She was helpin' us, 'course with the expectation of bein' paid. And he just shot her. Said she was plannin' on betraying us but, I dunno, I didn't get that from her."
Evelyn shivered as Arthur continued on.
"I think I know what you mean. I saw it too, after you told me that night with Angelo Bronte about how he was acting. The Dutch I know would be trying his hardest to get John back, especially after we've lost so many." Evelyn quietly added. When Evelyn had first been welcomed into the gang Dutch was one of the first people to make her feel welcome, and she'd seek his guidance often when she felt lost or unsure. He made her feel safe, made her think of him as a father she regretfully never had. The revelation of his erratic behavior made her heart drop sourly in her stomach. "It's like he's lost sight of what he's fought so hard for, and now he only knows how to survive."
Arthur hummed, sighing and looking up to the sky, the stars hidden behind fat rainclouds. Thankfully the rain had subsided shortly after the battle with the Pinkertons. He gestured for Evelyn to sit beside him, which she happily did, settling under his arm and resting her head against his chest. She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent, tears pricking her eyes at the raw relief she felt now that he was back.
"So... The letter you left, back at Shady Belle." Arthur said, breaking the silence. "Why'd you sign it as 'Nicole'?" He asked. Evelyn furrowed her brows in confusion before laughing softly.
"Oh, I thought you knew. Nicole is my middle name. I suppose it was silly to sign it as such if I never told you, sorry about that." She apologized sheepishly. Her head bounced lightly as he chuckled.
"I knew it was you, though it took me a second." He trailed his fingers through her long hair absentmindedly. "What was it like, these past two months?" He asked quietly. Evelyn sighed.
"Awful. Every day was a struggle to get the will to continue on. We were lost without you boys, you know. It's frightening how quickly the rest of us get lost when Dutch isn't around. Tilly, Karin, MaryBeth, Uncle, even Abigail, it's like he's the one who instructs them on how to breath and live. I don't want to think about what would've happened if Sadie and Charles weren't there to whip them into shape, you know." Arthur chuckled at this.
"Yeah, Dutch has that effect on people. That's his talent, I guess, drawing people in and giving them hope." He paused. "What were you going to do? If we didn't come back?" Evelyn looked away shamefully, her expression sour.
"I'm not sure. Me and Sadie talked about running away with Annabell, maybe getting stuck in another loveless marriage just to secure a life for Anna." She shrugged. Arthur tightened his hold around her, making her have to look up at him.
"You'll never have to go through that again, Evelyn. Not while I'm alive, at least." He dipped down to kiss her deeply, tugging her towards him until she was curled up in his lap.
"As much as I enjoy this time we're having, first thing tomorrow we're getting rid of all of this hair." Evelyn teased, pulling away and gesturing to his overgrown beard. Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes, a smirk on his lips.
"Yes ma'am."