Isabella Morningstar, stories of the Devil in Red had spread quickly through the town and where ever she went people left her a wide berth. The mud fight in the street had brought attention to her, but Izzy's reputation was hot gossip in the village. The bounty hunter stood outside alone on the hotel patio in the dark, the moon blocked out by the thunder clouds which rumbled and sparked in the sky. The storm had blacked out the heavens and what little light was available came from the few lanterns which struggled to stay lite in the damp cold air. Isabella still dressed in a man's casual red checkered shirt, and dark brown trousers stood at the far corner of the patio trying to light her cigarette but to no avail. Her matchbook was damp and one by one she struck the flimsy paper on the strip of the box. With great vigour, they sparked but did not catch as Izzy discarded them with a huff at her feet. She was about to give up when a match was struck in the dark shielded by elk white-gloved hands. Isabella circled the cigarette in her lips and clenched it between her teeth with a snarl as she gazed upon Arthur's face revealed in the light of the fire. He gestured in a motion of peace silently offering it to her.
"Mr Callaghan... Or Is it Mr Morgan?" Her voice broke the silence as she leaned over to it and allowed him the gesture to light her cigarette. She quickly pulled away once the tobacco was lite and took in a long deep breath feeling the immediate relief of her addiction.
"Hello, Ms Morningstar. It's... been a long time." Arthur said with a stoic expression. He was not ready for this confrontation, he could not avoid it, but he was still screaming at himself to run away. The best thing to do was try and put out the flames of past mistakes before it became an inferno. The storm would have them locked down in the hotel for the night, so if he was going to stay, they needed to find common ground or a temporary peace treaty. Once Isabella had settled her nerves she let a cloud of smoke release into his face replying to his parley with what could be best translated as an impolite refusal. The puff of smoke burned his eyes, and he bore it with a smile. Unsure now where things would go it would be best to play nice. From what he could remember she was famously hot-headed with a strict moral code. In truth, this entire conversation could have been avoided. If he hadn't shaven off his beard in such a haste.
"A long time? I had completely forgotten how you stole all my money! I really hope you spent it taking care of your daddy." Isabella did not yell but struck deep with her words. Her hand hooked on her hip as she stuck her nose up at him taking her stand against him after so long. She didn't need the fancy jewels or a gun to dominate a conversation. The truth of her words silenced him, and the confidence behind her voice captivated him. After thirteen years he finally took the time to study her face. Her red hair cascading around her shoulders like a thick curly cloak. The once bucked teeth now had straightened out, but her lack of smile concealed them. The once shallow nose had matured into her perfect heart shaped face decorated with more freckles then he could remember. Nothing compared to her eyes however and as they bore down on him, he was just happy to see them again. The mere thought of his younger self and her left his chest tight like earlier but more unbearable as she scorned him.
"Forever is a good way to put it." Arthur regretfully admitted, for the first time in a long time there was no witty quip to save him from Devil in Red.
"So 'Mr Callaghan'. Are you looking to rob Rose in her sleep or take off with her carriage after you shoot me dead in the streets?" Isabella said with malice.
"It's not like that." He tried to be gentle.
"Then what is it? All my stuff was in that bag including the papers proving Artex belonged to me."
"That's what a stack of musky papers was?" Arthur asked remembering clearly what was inside that bag.
"You son of a bitch, I had to sell him for 20 dollars! Because of you, I had to sell it... Ugh, you are the worst man I have ever met how could you use me like that!" She was about to start shouting but was able to wind her emotions down. Everything he said was triggering her primage rage to beat him senseless.
"Artex was a good horse, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take the papers, but Dutch told me..."
"Ha! Dutch? You're so full of shit, even if I did have a second magic bag with the papers in it. You still stole my stuff and ditched me! That's not his fault it's yours. Dutch didn't make you get on the boat." Isabella was speaking in a low whisper as to not alert those inside who would want to eavesdrop on such a heated discussion.
"Izzy please," Arthur called for her as she ashed her cigarette under her boot ready to walk away. Arthur approached her to follow, and that was when Isabella spun on her heels with her hand on her hip prepared to draw her pistol.
"Don't you dare call me that! I've seen the wanted posters Mr Morgan, and I will only warn you once. Stay away from me, or I will put a bullet in your skull." Isabella's voice went low, and their eyes were locked. Arthur had a chance to attempt to his pistol but resisted since she was ready to fire and that reputation she had made for herself had, in fact, reached his ears in the dirty parts of the west.
"Would you let me explain at least." Arthur approached again as she drew her gun as fast as the strike of lightning that flashed in the distance.
"Do you have wax in your ears? Not another step." She spoke in a quiet, dark tone making Arthur stop and raise his hands.
"You won't shoot me, I'm unarmed. Give me five minutes I'll explain everything, you owe me." He slowly approached her again keeping his hands up letting the barrel of her pistol point at his chest.
"You couldn't hurt me, I'm your teddy bear remember." Arthur smiled his best charming smile he could, he really did miss her on those lonely nights on the road. He would hug his pillow for warmth, and her image would appear in his head. Though seeing her for real was better than anything his mind could come up with. He knew she couldn't do it, things were different between them and hopeful in his thoughts he waited for her to surrender.
Isabella's hand shook on her pistol as her eyes began to well up, her pale features turning hot. The redness of her frustration showed on her cheeks as he brought out a deep pain she had buried for a long time. That's when Arthur saw the same little girl who gave him his first kiss, but that moment did not last. With a deep breath, Isabella steadied herself and stood straight and proud.
"I owe you nothing." Isabella cocked the hammer of the gun and pushed the barrel into his heart. Arthur felt his weight triple on his knees. She wasn't kidding and as a single tear ran down her cheek. The cold-hearted killer she had become stared back at him, and he honestly felt scared of her.
"Easy there,..." He backed up away from her cautiously, the lack of shake in her hand making his own shiver slightly.
"Keep going." She ordered.
"Alright." Arthur obeyed and with slow steps he cleared her space. The only sound in the air was the howling winds scraping brush across the dirt.
"You keep your fucking mouth shut, ya hear. If I catch you trying to rob my girls. Sleep with my girls, or even look at my girls. I'll do to you what I did to the Bayou Bandit."
"Do I dare asked what you did to him?" Arthur asked curiously. He may be surrendering, but his famous wit always got him in deeper trouble.
"I cut his balls off and feed them to my dog," Isabella said bluntly in response.
Arthur laughed uncomfortably as she threatened him with such a childish come back. His chuckle was silenced however by a howl in the wind. It's low musical bellow echoed in the dark unnervingly close.
"That's Bijou, do you want to meet her?"
"No, I don't."
"Good, so hypothetically after you meet my dog, I would collect whatever bounty I could off your head and then leave you with the Hangman, Is that clear?" Isabella spoke with hatred but was well composed, her eyes watered still, but her voice did not waver. Arthur could see there was a pain since that wave of deep lonely anger he was all too familiar was behind her eyes. The same with all those haunted mirrors he saw. They were more alike then she knew, but Isabella wanted nothing to do with him. That in itself was worse than being shot. Arthur slinked back away from her not at all surprised that this is how the conversation ended. Many people had cast Arthur out of their lives before, and there were only two other instances where it felt this bad.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry. Goodnight mam." He spoke quietly and left slowly as the long walk to the door began. The creak of the wood under his weight and clash of his spurs with each step echoed in the night air. Would he feel the hot sting of his betrayal tonight?
As Arthur crossed the threshold of the door to go back inside the hotel, he could hear Isabella gasp for air behind him instead of the pop of a bullet. Was she crying?
Unable to look back he rushed away towards his room in shame. The ache in his chest ripped open as emotions he thought were left in the past came back to torment him. He kept his head down and marched for the stairs almost free of the main room. That was when Rosalyn caught his eye, and he looked to meet her gaze. The blonde still looking like she just stepped out of the salon gave him a curious expression, eyeing him carefully. Arthur quickly looked away and her face light up with excitement. Rosalyn quickly crossing the room made a direct line for him. Arthur rushed up the stairs passing by a few drunk couples who blocked the way. Hoping to lose her on the second floor by hiding in the crowd. Rosalyn spun around the bannister and from the bottom of the staircase, her voice bellowed out for his attention like a banshee in the night.
"Where you going cowboy!" She exclaimed. The crowd hanging around the stairs all turned to Arthur. Their curious eyes revealing him like a spotlight. The most popular girl at the party had just called for him.
"I'm a little tired, so I'm just going to turn in" Arthur tried to dodge the oncoming conversation, but she rushed up the stairs to his side and grabbed his arm.
"Oh No! No no no! You don't get to run away from me that easily. You must tell me everything I have ignored you for too long! Come to my room!" Rosalyn dragged him, and she was surprisingly strong for someone so small. Arthur was forced to follow her, with so many eyes on him he was trapped. The idea of getting lost in the mountains during a thunderstorm sounded like a great idea at that moment.
Rosalyn lead Arthur into her hotel room which must have been the most expensive room in the joint. There was a queen sized bed dressed in furs and wool blankets by the window. A soft rolling fire which needed another log light a dining table covered in chocolates and cigars. An exotic paper change room divider sat by a large mirror and makeup table. The reflection of her trunks of dresses stashed behind it as glittering jewels sparkled in his eyes. A half-eaten plate of fresh fruits, bread and cheeses sat on the table as an unopened bottle of fine brandy sat with three glasses beside it. The array of gluttonous treats tempting him to stay as his sweet tooth ached in his mouth.
"Please make your self comfortable, I need to lose some layers. Would you open that bottle for me I have weak hands." Rosalyn asked him like she was asking her husband and disappeared behind the Exotic divider. Her silhouette became visible in the dimly light room after she lights a small wick lamp on the makeup stand. Arthur paced around examining the tables as she started peeling off her clothes. Though he was unable to see her naked form, he was getting a spectacular show of curves. Little by little each article of clothing came off, and Arthur stopped to watch. It had been a long time since he been alone with a woman.
"I think there has been a misunderstanding, I think it's best maybe if I go." Arthur attempted to duck out of the room, but Rosalyn opened the divider as he walked for the door. Her bare chest only covered by her arm wearing nothing but her bare pantyhosed legs in beige beaded panties. The full illusion of her naked form was before him as his mouth hit the floor.
"If you step out that door, I'm going to tell Izzy that we slept together." She hungry eyes at him.
"Now wait just one minute!" Arthur's tone flipped from calm and collected to hot and angry, and Rosalyn gasped.
"I knew it! You're sweet on her!" she giggled.
"I..." Arthur must have swallowed a frog because he had nothing to say after that. She just grinned and closed the divider once again and continued to change.
"I had a feeling with the way you two were making eyes at each other. I read her diary, and she writes about you. Hm, you wouldn't think so with how she wanted to flay the skin from your back at the poker table. But I know what you want. You wanted to take her back to your room and mwah mwah mwah." Rosalyn danced around behind her barrier wiggling her hips.
"It's nothing like that." Arthur crossed his arms over his chest. Huffing a stubborn scowl at her since he was unable to barge out of the room in case she decided to follow him.
"Oh isn't it?" She asked as she opened the divider again, this time dressed in a long white and violet nightgown with matching overcoat. Her long blonde hair untied from its bun and cascading around her face.
"I don't know what it's like for you city folk, but whatever story you have going on in your head is not real sweetheart," Arthur said bitterly as this harlot started commenting on his personal life.
"I don't think so, why would you carelessly bet your rare sweet princess on a twenty dollar game? She must be worth what Four hundred maybe five hundred?" Rosalyn asked as she walked up to him. He puffed his chest out at her, but she did not approach him to touch. She merely wanted to access the coat rack behind him, and as he moved away, she picked up a knitted white brown and blue poncho. After she threw it around her shoulders, she walked back to the unopened bottle of brandy and waited for him clearing her throat in annoyance.
"So?" He sighed and walked over to snatch the brandy bottle up and opened it, God knew he sure needed a drink.
"So, I don't think that game was about the money at all. I think you wanted Izzy to win, and by throwing your horse into the pot. You were paying her back for something, and I want to know why?"
"This isn't some fantasy Ms Bush, I lost the card game because she got lucky." He stated sternly as he poured them both a glass, his more generous than hers. He was fed up and didn't want to speak with Rosalyn, the only person he wished to talk to almost shot him dead less than five minutes ago.
"Then tell me what it is then? Because from what I see, Izzy wants me to know your trouble." Rosalyn added before approaching Arthur again, this time getting right up in his face. At first, he thought she was trying to poke him but her eyes focused on his chest and she tapped him. He looked down at what she was pointing at where a transparent oil stain blemished his paisley vest.
"She does it on purpose, over oiling the tip of her gun so I can see who she wants us to stay away from, what happened between you two?" Rosalyn asked again this time she spoke with concern since Arthur refused to lock eyes with her. His favourite vest has to suffer from all this drama too.
"I know a dangerous man when she I see one, Arthur. You have all the tells of a man who does violent things. Your boots. Deluxe quickdraw in brown leather with blood stains on them. This scar on your chin, long faded but unmistakeably done with a clean-edged blade." She ran her finger over his chin where it was, and he pushed her hand away. Arthur could feel her scanning her for details, and with his back to the wall. He had no place to escape unless he crashed through the window which was looking like a fantastic option at the moment. Still, he did not speak since he was only able to swallow the lump in his throat with a splash of brandy.
"I see... how much?" She asked.
"Excuse me?" Arthur replied.
"How much will it cost you to spill the beans, I can only assume that's the only language you understand, and I always get what I want." Rosalyn walked away from him and opened a purse sitting on the table. She withdrew from it a small coin purse made of maroon velvet and threw it at him which he caught easily. It was small, but when Arthur opened it, he could roughly count fifty dollars and a few jewels inside.
"Why do you want to know so badly?" Arthur asked as those dirty temptations seduced him.
"Because I hired her to protect me and after seven years of travelling together I want to know everything about her, she keeps secrets, and I don't like secrets inside my family." Rosalyn took her brandy and a cigar and crossed over to the bed where a stack of pillows and blankets were laid out. She crawled into the nest and perched herself up and pat the spot next to her.
"Come on big man, tell me her secrets." She gave him a kiss and a wink.
Arthur looked back to the coin purse in hand and shook it around a bit fighting his own greed. Isabella's words echoing in the back of his skull as well as Dutch's.
"Fine. We are going to need another bottle though." Arthur pocketed the coin purse and unbuttoned his vest. It was going to be a long night, and if she was going to be comfortable, he was too.
Rosaly had a smile on her lips as Arthur unclasped the buckle of his belt and dropped his gun on the chair.
"Slow down and let me watch." Rosalyn licked her lips and Arthur gave her a dirty look before approaching the bed, and she raised her hand.
"Ah ah... shirt too, then you can have one of these," Rosalyn said giving him a sly smirk.
Arthur locked eyes on her wanting to refuse. However, she waved her cigar at him, and that was enough for him to unbutton his shirt and discard it on the ground. Once he was shirtless, he sat on the bed as Roslyn laid her feet across his lap as she placed the cigar in his mouth.
"Okay Cowboy, so tell me. How did you and Izzy meet." Rosalyn said pulling out a match from the box currently making herself comfortable. Her feet kneaded into his lap sensually making him stiffen.
"You need to stop that," Arthur stated pushing her feet down away from his groin as she lit the match.
"Give me a foot rub, and I'll stop, but I asked you a question, how did you two meet." She asked again and light the cigar for him. He took a couple of drags as the chocolate flavoured paper filled his mouth with sweet, mellow smoke.
"I met her after my gang burned down her uncles' farm, " Arthur said and took one of her lovely feet in hand and started to knead the flesh. Her ankles were stiff, but her calf muscles were strong. So As Arthur's strong hands began to pinch and push she flopped back into the pillow and moaned.
"Oh God, my feet hurt... So we aren't starting this story off on a great note. Why did you guys burn down her uncles' farm?" Rosalyn asked relieved from the tension and pain which was caused from long days standing in heels.
"The guy was a kidnapper running with a bad group of men, he kidnapped one of our own and when I was around 17, and we went to get her back. Thing's didn't go smoothly, so we had to use force." Arthur said and handed the cigar to her when she reached for it.
"So you burned the house down got your girl back, where was Izzy?"
"She was in the stables with the horses, she didn't have a room in the house but in the loft of the barn. When we let the horses free, she asked us to come with. Said she wanted to go to Washington to see her Grandmother." Arthur had gotten into a rhythm with his massage and Rosalyn looked very relaxed under his grip. Her face twisted in pain a bit as he could feel the grinding of bone as she rotated her ankles.
"What happened here?" He asked.
"Old dance injury. Never mind that did you take her to Washington?" Rosalyn asked when Arthur's attention drifted.
"We took her to the boat, Dut... I mean our leader said she could stay with us and join the gang because it was really good at hunting" Arthur catching himself oversharing.
"And Duuuu.. who?" She asked noticing Arthur was holding back a name. "Hm?"
"Who are you talking about? Oh, tell me, tell me, tell me I can keep a secret." She bounced in the bed and kicked him a bit.
"Dutch," Arthur said. How much had he drunk so far? He looked to his glass which was empty and currently being refilled by Rosalyn.
"Dutch Van Der Linde?" Rosalyn asked with a smirk.
"Oh shit." Arthur was in trouble.
"Oh, I read about him, so you are a gang member! I think you just went from hunky cowboy to rugged outlaw. Meow!" Rosalyn purred and pushed up from her position and shimmied closer onto Arthur's lap.
"Ms please." Arthur was embarrassed. He was never this careless going to town let alone a victim to gossip. Rosalyn, however, was indeed a gossip whore. Though as she snuggled into his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The soft poncho she wore warm on his skin this cold night as she blanketed him. Her small frame curled up into his body. The haze of alcohol mixed with desire clouded his head. It had been a very long time since someone had been this affectionate with him. Yet she was not the woman he longed for, and lines were getting blurred.
"You and Dutch Van Der Linde burned up this evil kidnappers farm, found a teenaged girl far from her Grandmother who could shoot and then what. Sounds like you helped her." She said enjoying herself as she cuddled him.
"Well, we travelled a long time together. Hosea liked her so we would go off alone on fishing trips together... what is in this cigar? My head feels like a cloud." He asked since they had been sharing it. Rosalyn giggled. He was finally loosening after up. Despite the voices in his head, he was happy to share the story, and Rosalyn was a good listener.
"It doesn't matter now, she hates me."
"Well, what did you do?" Rosalyn asked still not getting the full details.
"It's... complicated," Arthur said grabbing the bottle and ditching the glass altogether.
"No, it's not. What did you do?" Rosalyn asked again grabbing the bottle as he attempted to chug it down and pulled it from his hand.
"I... crap." Arthur slid Rosalyn off his lap and hung his head down shamefully. Rosalyn only shifting to sit on her own and keep listening, waiting for him to continue as he processed his thoughts. Meanwhile pouring herself another drink and putting the nearly empty bottle down.
"Isabella didn't pay her share to the gang, she was getting close to me, so Dutch said she was using that to avoid paying the pot. We all pull our own weight. And then I heard her talking to Hosea about me going with her to Washington."
"Oh? Why would she want you to go, were you two in love?" Rosalyn's eyebrows furrowed.
"No!" Arthur snapped and sat upright defensively.
"You're lying."
"We weren't together," Arthur repeated.
"If there is one thing I have learned about that girl is that she is honourable. I highly doubt she would play games with anyone." Rosalyn said defending her friend.
"Okay, there was one time."
"Ha! I knew it."
"Okay, just listen alright. I liked Izzy, but she was my first... you know."
"Roll in the hay?"
"Girlfriend."
"Awe."
"Things were getting serious you know, first we're riding at night around the beach next she asks me to leave everyone I know and care about to abscond out across the country and meet a family who she has never met." Arthur flopped back onto the bed. Deep down, he still wondered if he made the right choice.
"Yeah, that's a lot, so you didn't go obviously," Rosalyn asked grabbing a slice of apple from her tray of snacks by the bed and taking a bite. Arthur paused in his response long enough to make Rosalyn turn over her shoulder and look him in the eye.
"You didn't go. right?" Rosalyn asked again. Arthur looked back at her with guilty eyes like he had outside earlier that day and her mouth fell open.
"What did you do?" She scorned him.
"I jumped off the boat when it left the dock." Arthur closed his eyes saying it out loud hearing it for himself just how much of an ass hole he is.
"Arthur! No!" Rosalyn was astounded, mouth open in awe.
"I also stole her bag with all her money, and accidentally stole the ownership papers for Artex too." Arthur covered his face with a pillow wanting to smother himself. Rosalyn merely jumped onto his chest and ripped it off him and started beating him with it.
"What's wrong with you! That was you're the first girlfriend, That was her favourite horse! You robbed her? How could you do that she was just a little girl!" Rosalyn was mad smacking him with the pillow which he wrestled away from her.
"I get it I am the worst now get off me," Arthur said as Rosalyn straddled his waist.
"You sir owe that woman so much more than a free horse, she deserves an apology!"
"I tried she won't listen to me," Arthur complained.
"Well, you're currently half naked under her employer after being bought for fifty dollars, some jewellery and a cigar. Do you think maybe your morals might need some reevaluating." Rosalyn asked running her fingers up his chest through his long unkempt chest hair.
"You got me drunk." Arthur pouted. Rosalyn was fun, and the affection was sweet, but his heart wasn't in it. He looked away from her to gaze out the window as her fingers tickled his skin. The rain beating against the glass as the shutters clattered from the wind.
"This is true, you really care about her don't you," Rosalyn asked still petting his chest enjoying the feel of his firm muscles under her fingers. Sighing with a pout of her own.
"Maybe..." Arthur still had to think about it. He placed his hand over the top of his heart trapping Rosalyn hand on the spot where Isabella had stuck her gun. His skin still burning from it.
"You poor thing." Rosalyn was heartbroken for him, but before she could speak her again, the door opened. They both turned to look and standing in the doorway was the fiery redhead with a look of pure disgust on her face.