The sun shone down through the leave and sparkled off the water of the creek. The chatter of the wilderness filled the woods with bird songs as Arthur and Rosalyn stood apart from each other. Both of them ringing out their wet clothes, refusing to look at each other. Arthur had removed his shirt and flung it onto a tree branch as he shook out his boots. He looked over to Rosalyn who sat on a boulder with her back to him. She was drying her hair with her shirt, and she looked over, noticing him peeking.
"Look away." She said, glaring at him and Arthur quickly turned his head a full 180 degrees.
"I'm sorry, it's not exactly a secret about how gorgeous you are," Arthur said aloud with a smile on his face. The taste of mint still on his lips.
"It was just a kiss, it didn't mean anything," Rosalyn said, tapping her foot wildly as she braided her hair.
"Stop lying to yourself, you were all over me back and Strawberry and now you pretend you're not interested. Are you mad I slept with Izzy? Cause I wasn't exactly sober at the time and you heard it from her. She only did it to rob me. Face it. She's just as awful as you and me." Arthur said and stood up once his boots were back on. "Now would you hurry up we need to catch up with the caravan."
"Yes! I am mad you slept with Izzy. I'm mad that I left the room for five minutes and you jumped each other." Rosalyn stood up as well and with confidence marched up to him.
"You should have said something. Izzy should have told me you two have history. You should have fucked IN YOUR ROOM!" She screamed at him. Her powerful singing voice making all the birds and creatures in the area scatter at the sheer volume of her voice. "The room I paid for!" She started to calm herself, taking a huge breath and walking away from Arthur. Throwing her shirt on over her shoulders and buttoning it as she walked away.
"Don't you walk away from me. You need a ride back, and it's my horse. Remember. Should I even mention the fact that I lost both my saddles when we lost The Duke? Do you think $500 will be enough to replace him? You think you can throw your money around and everything is going to go your way." Arthur was trying his best to get mad at her, but in the end, he already understood how not to get connected to things. The Duke was a significant loss, but he had lost steeds before, stronger, healthier, faster ones but not nearly as loyal.
"I can't keep fighting like this! All I know is that I need you to stay away from me." Rosalyn turned back to him, stopping his marching approach. Both of them standing at the base of the hill they tumbled down. "Okay! I like you, it's true. Your handsome, strong and kind-hearted, but you're a liar. You lied about your name. You lied about Izzy."
"I may be a bad man, but I did not lie about Izzy. I didn't even recognize her until she came back from the bath. I was going to run away before she could leak my secret, but you dragged me upstairs. I couldn't say no to you." Arthur explained.
"Why not? If you knew Izzy would try something against you, why not turn me down? I'm just some foolish whore, right?" Rosalyn asked, making Arthur go silent. He had no quip, no explanation just an ache in his chest which felt like a pit which he was falling into. His feelings of Izzy and Rosalyn confused with each other. Arthur tried to think, rubbing his fingers over his stubbled lip. "Arthur?" Rosalyn asked, concerned.
"I don't know." He replied as he started to climb up the hill.
"What do you mean you don't know? Why did you come back to my room?" Rosalyn demanded as she followed Arthur up the hill, slipping and sliding on the gravel. Arthur was rolling his eyes before extending his hand out to help before she fell again.
"I don't know... I like you, I guess. You're a pain in my ass, but it's better than being some boring, desperate homemaker. I don't know what I'm saying. I was drunk! I've smashed my head through doors when I've been drunk. I can't explain every stupid decision I did." Arthur helped her climb up to the path by lifting her by the waist to reach the ledge. Letting her step on his hand like a step as she pulled her self up. Arthur leapt and pulled himself up, Rosalyn holding his hand and pulling him too. It wasn't much help but appreciated none the less. Arthur huffed walking up to his hat which had fallen by the roadside and placed it back on his head after dusting it off. "Listen, Izzy and I... we was pubescent teenagers having a summers fling. Seeing her made me feel like that again, but it wasn't anything beyond that. Besides, you saw how she made me pay for crossing her, wearing your ladies gown." Arthur jested as he approached his horse who had crossed the road to eat some English mace sprigs on the side of the trail.
"You could have said no," Rosalyn said, hugging herself. "I felt used by both of you." She didn't cross the road to meet him, just stared at him with sad round eyes.
"Oh come on, Don't give me that look I'm sorry okay. I... I should have told you to stay and her to leave. What am I suppose to do now?" Arthur asked and walked Princess by her lead over to Rosalyn. "She's gone, I gotta get you somewhere safe. So let me do that for you, then I will leave you alone for the rest of eternity." He said and gestured her to climb on.
Rosalyn sighed heavily, her eyes ever so sad as they scanned the ground. "I don't want that." She said quietly.
"Then what do you want?" He asked.
"To disappear with someone who loves me." She said honestly with glassy eyes.
"Oh, Rose... I can't do that. No one can do that." Arthur felt horrible, saying those words as he watched her heartbreak through the mirrors of her eyes. The tears were falling, but as Arthur tried to embrace her for comfort, she climbed up onto the horses flank and swung her legs over the other side, so her back was to him. "Rose?"
"Stop calling me that and take me back to my caravan please," Rosalyn said through a cracked voice. Arthur wanted to punch something, break a jaw or anything else in rage, but he dropped his fist and sighed.
"Alright, Ms Rosalyn." He said sadly and climbed up onto the saddle. Rosalyn's delicate hand was holding onto his waist as he commanded Princess to go forward.
It was a quiet ride back, As Rosalyn's rested her head between Arthur's shoulder blades. He could tell she was crying by the shivering shoulders and muffled breaths. He felt awful for it too. It wasn't the first woman he had made cry. It still hit him hard, though.
"Hey you know one day you're going to find a man who is going to be head over heels for you. Someone as handsome as you are beautiful and he's going to make you real happy." Arthur said, trying to lift her spirit. Rosalyn said nothing, just remained silent as the horse's hooves clacked against the ground. Up ahead, he noticed Jeremy and Daniel waiting at the back of the caravan with a group of people. Faces he wasn't expecting to see.
"Dutch?" Arthur hollered seeing the familiar black ensemble atop of a pure white stallion. Dutch Van Der Linde himself smoking a cigar while chatting up the boys. His black raven hair smoothed back with pomade as his moustache and goatee perfectly trimmed to match. There was a man tied up on the back of his horse. John Marston, the hot-headed kid of the gang, had accompanied Dutch, but that's all Arthur could see from his posse hanging around.
"Arthur! There you are! We have been looking for you! Where did you go, son?" Dutch asked as Arthur caught up.
"I was out hunting, ran into some people who needed help," Arthur said and looked back to Rosalyn, who was staring at Dutch with wide worried eyes.
"This must be her?" Dutch asked Jeremy who nodded in response. "My dear, I believe I have caught the foul criminal who stole from you. My name is Dutch, as my compatriot has already introduced me. This is John." He said motioning to John, who remained quiet but tipped his hat to her.
"Lady Annabelle Ross" Rosalyn replied as Dutch rode up beside them and extended his hand out to her. Rosalyn shook his grasp, but Dutch proceeded to kiss it.
"Ms Annabelle, my my my Arthur have you not met anyone more beautiful then Ms Annabelle here? You are soaking wet, my dear here." Dutch pulled the sleeping roll from his saddle and wrapped it around her. "Jeremy my boy why don't you see Annabelle to her carriage. Arthur and I can deal with these thieves for you." He ordered. In his usual fashion, whenever Dutch entered a conversation, he immediately dominated over it. He hopped off his horse and helped Rosalyn down off Princess. "John, why don't you cover the rear with Daniel. You have a pair of fine young boys taking care of you, Ms Annabelle. Why they were hot on the trail of these two before we showed up."
"Good thing they did too! We almost fell into a trap. They had a group of bandits waiting in the trees to ambush us Ms Ros... *Cough*. Ms Annabelle. We would have died if they didn't step in." Jeremy said stuttering a bit, making Arthur wonder if they were fully aware this was Dutch before he outed him. "Come on, let's get you into something dry." Jeremy helped Rosalyn climb up onto his horse, and he rode her back to the front of the caravan. Rosalyn was uncharacteristically quiet during the exchange. When they were gone, Arthur saw the second tied up bandit struggling on the ground.
"Come on, Arthur, grab him and let's take care of them away from the ladies," Dutch said with a devilish grin. "Besides, it will give us a moment for you to explain to me whats going on? I thought you were going to hunt?" Dutch started to question Arthur but noticed how Daniel was eyeing him. Arthur silently slid off the horse and picked up the bandit and hoisted him up onto Princess without hesitation. He and Dutch than riding off into the trees.
"Care to explain son? Why your travelling with a caravan full of ladies and children? I didn't realize you were such a kind fellow. Tell me, who are these people?" Dutch asked as he and Arthur rode side by side out to a clearing in the trees.
"It's a long story; the short version is. These folk are running from the O'Driscolls." Arthur said only nervous that Dutch was here.
"Colm O'Driscoll? The bastard what does he want with these folk?" He asked.
"It's not the folk its just Annabelle," Arthur said, honouring Rosalyn's wish by not revealing her real name. Arthur didn't keep many secrets from Dutch but knew why she would use a fake name.
"Why her?" Dutch asked as they both flipped the bandits of their horses onto the ground. Both of them flopping around tied up and gagged helpless on the ground. Arthur paused for a second to think, trying to find the best explanation without revealing her.
"She's turned down his advances in town, he didn't take to kindly to that and would rather see her dead if she won't see him." Arthur said, rather proud of his truth coloured lie.
"What a snake! A lady like her is far too beautiful for his ugly mug. Do these folk have any money?" Dutch question and took out a knife and dismounted his horse. Arthur following suit. The two of them slitting the bandit's throats and leaving them to expire on the ground.
"Not much, most of the money is in the supplies they carry and personal coin. Dutch these are good folk, I'm just trying to get them out of O'Driscoll territory and then coming back to camp. They hired me to take them to Blackwater." Arthur explained as they cleaned their knives headed back to their horses.
"Well then, it seems like you have extra hands they can pay some extra cash for. How much you say they're paying you?" Dutch mounted The Count and led the way headed back to the caravan.
"$200." Arthur lied.
"Seems a bit low. Tell you what, I'll negotiate with the lovely Annabelle, and you take the middle and watch the tree line. I'll see if there is some hidden wealth you haven't uncovered. Don't worry about it. Oh, and change your clothes, you look like a mess." Dutch scolded and took off ahead of him. Arthur pursed his lips, feeling somewhat defeated.
"Maybe this is for the best." He said to himself and climbed back up onto Princess. Headed for the centre of the caravan to keep watch as Dutch went to talk with Rosalyn.
Dutch rode to the front, the caravan at a complete halt as Rosalyn changed inside her carriage with Jeremy keeping guard at the door.
"Everything alright, Lady Annabelle? We took care of the bandits for you." Dutch announced his presence as Jeremy kept a calm composure. Rosalyn opened the door of her carriage, wearing a simple skirt and blouse in cream white and blue.
"Thank you, but you didn't need to do that Mr Van Der Linde," Rosalyn said, giving him a cold stare. She spoke with her American drawl, hiding her British accent flawlessly.
"Why, you know who I am?" Dutch asked with a grin.
"I do. Read about you in the newspaper. I hear you're a bit of a trouble maker. I don't usually invite trouble makers to travel with us." Rosalyn added and headed to the driver's seat of the carriage.
"All a big misunderstanding, you see this world doesn't understand people like us. People keep coming out here to find freedom in this wild world. Sometimes you have got to get your hands dirty. Please call me Dutch. Arthur told me you needed safe travel to Blackwater, let me help! The least I can do for you returning my life long friend to us safely." Dutch jumped down from the Count and climbed up into the carriage next to Rosalyn. "Let me drive, Ms Honey back there told me about your tumble down the hill. Why don't you relax." Dutch said and opened his hand to her for her to place the reigns within.
Rosalyn studied Dutch's face for a long moment, before handing him the reigns.
"I am pretty tired." She said softly. Dutch's keen ear able to pick up with sadness in her voice.
"Sounds like more than just a lack of sleep, tell me what's on your mind," Dutch asked most gentlemanly. The savage murderer Dutch Van Der Linde not nearly as intimidating as his reputation. A boisterous man with a knack for words.
"It's a long story." Rosalyn tried to dodge his question.
"I like long stories." Dutch shifted closer to her and leaned his ear in as he flicked the reigns getting the caravan back on the move again.
Rosalyn sighed, turning back to see Arthur looking at them. A sly little half-smile creeping on her face for a split second. "Where do I start? First, my best friends sleep with the man I wanted. Then this disgusting gangster tries to rape and shoot me. My best friend died, a buffoon of a man completely rejected me. Who by the way I was foolish to have even crushed on in the first place." Rosalyn easily let fresh tears fall. The real pressure and emotion of the past few days easy to draw from for inspiration.
"How awful! I am so sorry. It's hard losing a friend, but I can tell you one thing. I know Colm O'Driscoll, and I promise you, as long as your with me. He won't be a problem." Dutch said and grabbed her hand. "You have my word, Annabelle." He said, locking her gaze in his. Rosalyn was feeling a hot flush tone of pink start to burn her face.
"Thank you. I need to hear some good things today." Rosalyn looked at his hand, holding her so delicately.
"What do you see?" Jeremy asked Arthur as he had retreated to join him in the middle. Arthur using his binoculars to spy on Dutch and Rosalyn.
"Arthur, what are you doing? You're acting weird." John asked after catching up with the two of them, concerned why Arthur would be spying on Dutch.
"He's holding her hand... why is he holding her hand?" Arthur surprising disturbed by the sight of Dutch flirting with Rosalyn.
"What no! Why would she let him do that?" Jeremy asked, holding his hand out to take the binoculars which Arthur refused to share.
"Dutch is a handsome man kid, any woman would be lucky to hold hands with him," John said, remaining loyal to his leader.
"Shut up, John," Arthur said bitterly.
"What crawled up your ass and died." John snapped back.
"Arthur's in love with her." Ms Honey interrupted. Having been driving the cart, they were riding beside.
"I am not." Arthur snapped.
"Arthur! In love? I didn't know your brain had the capacity for such a complicated emotion." John teased.
"One more word out of you, I'm going to beat you senseless." Arthur threatened as he put the binoculars down to face John directly.
"She said it not me." John defused.
"What's your name, boy?" Ms Honey asked John.
"John Marston." He said, tipping his hat to Ms Honey.
"I like you." She said, smiling at the young man.
"Oh, why thank you. I didn't do anything, though." John blushed a bit. A few girls were riding in Honey's cart, staring at them all giggling.
"He's a whiney idiot just to warn yeah," Arthur said looking back in his binoculars watching as Rosalyn and Dutch got into an in-depth conversation.