May I stand unshaken?
For pete's sake Luke I swore to myself as I unloaded the empty cartridges of my own revolver for the thirteenth time, I glanced at the Volcanic pistol down on a rock Arthur gave me few hours ago, while it's accuracy and handling was much better than my own Cattleman revolver which Sean presented to me an hour ago, it's recoil was much more harder
They made it look so easy in the game
Despite me taking my own time to reload and shoot, my wrists were aching taking turns on both hands, not to mention my ears ringing constantly still for hours
And finally the target was not much harmed than grazed, admittedly the thin tree I was using as a target must be two hundred yards or so, but still rounds after rounds I would walk up to the target to find it with few grazes and occasionally one or two hits on leaves and nothing else
I'm fucking terrible
"Goddamn, you're terrible" Arthur approached from behind, munching on a chocolate bar in hand and looking lot better before he shoved his gun into me
Guess little more sleep did him better
"it's no use sir" I croaked looking down at my revolver "I don't think I'm made up to be gunslinger like you" I chuckled
"Gunslinger? What you're doing is a target practice dummy, It ain't no part of 'gunslinging' you're far from drawing a pistol" he jeered "Hell you'll likely to hit your target for once when your opponent's already shot you dead for hundred times already"
Ah great, Antagonize, Antagonize, Antagonize
"I'm good at ignoring people Arthur" i absently said chuckling inside myself as I used the infamous line
Casually walking between me and his pistol on the ground he snickered looking at the slender tree he showed me to use as a practice
"Now, now boah I'm just joking with ya" he responded chuckling "here I'll give ya demonstration of it" snack still in his left hand he picked up the Volcanic pistol I've placed on the rock "now like I said before, I can't exactly tell ya any secrets or private lessons on how to shoot more than just aim and pull the trigger, but my bastard of a father gave me a little speech when I was just youngen" now twirling the pistol on hand he put it back on his holster
"If you wanna be a good fighter, no matter the weapon of your choice" he straightened up looking at the thin tree at the distance "be it be a gun, knives, hell even your fist" like a greased lightning he drew his pistol from its holster aiming in millisecond before he fired
I could only look in astonishment of him firing in such short order and the thin tree I've been using as a target practice for hours snap and broke in half
"then practice more" he finished holstering his pistol back looking back at me "or train or something, whatever I think you got the gist of what I'm saying"
So that was deadeye alright
"close that damn mouth, flies gonna make a nest in there" he snickered "Anyway we've or I should say 'you'" he said pointing a finger at me "wasted too much time and bullets trying to imitate a blindman, we should go and get that treasure you're so keen on getting"
"…Right" I uttered silently
"Now you're taking Taima with you, it's alright boy she's a gentle one I know you'll handle her better than what Charles expect from you" dropping the snack's waste on the ground
As we walked I couldn't help but to feel dread creeping up as I saw certain Deutsch man walk up to us
"How did you get on, Herr Morgan?" said Strauss tipping his hat at both of us
"Strauss, Fine I guess, our accounts are up to date" pointing at the journal on top of a barrel "Poor fellers the lot of em"
"Good, very good my friend" Smiled the german
"*sigh* My pleasure" he said before taking hold of my shoulder "C'mon let's ge-" before he could finish his sentence Strauss hastily moved in front of us
"Well if it's pleasure you're after, there is one other… this farmer, preacher, feller" said scrunching his face "feller who I met in Valentine "
Oh no
Facing the short German with a thoughtful expression "The charity feller? Yeah I know the one, I certainly saw him somewhere in Valentine" he stated with a frown "might as well see if he can pay up now"
Shit
How do I stop him from attaining a certain disease now?
I gotta do something before he sign his death warrant
"Thank you Herr Morg-"
"No!" I cut him off with a loud shrill
Surprised Arthur saw my evident hectic state "What the hell now kid?"
"I mean I'll go" I exclaimed impetuous still
"Damn alright no need to shout it, 'sides we were actually going together 'member?"
"No I meant to say I'll go alone Arthur"
"Wut?... boy you're definitely not alright, I thought you can't ride a horse, not to mention a gun" said Arthur looking at me stupefied "and alone out there on the field? You're gonna get robbed or worse"
"Arthur I know the feller Mr. Strauss talking about" I looked at the german "Downes's Ranch, west from here right?" Said German perked at the assumption "It's not far Arthur I can make it there in an hour at best"
"Ah yes, not far actually" added Strauss smiling crookedly
"Boy just what are you-" in Arthur's retort I cut him off
"Like I said I know him, here" handing him a parched paper "I drew some of the location using that map of yours" I pointed at the map behind the wagon "besides it will be easier and faster if we go separate ways right?" I spoke with a smile trying to convice him.
"Ah, splendid idea Herr… Skywalker is it" he chirped with a grin "I'll be waiting for your return" with Strauss marched on somewhere else
Arthur confusedly nodded while eyeing the map I gave him
"Guess I can make out of your doodle, you sure about this kid? I ain't no bone idle Luke we should probably-"
"It's alright sir, besides I told you i know him piece of cake" tho synonyms lost on him I still persuaded
"Well alright then, be careful" mounting his horse he carefully took out a long worn out repeater "and here, it used to be one our friend's favorite" he handed me the Litchfield repeater "Mac used it regularly" he added with a slim smile "I ain't seen him miss a shot with that thing"
Inspecting the slim gun, I could tell the previous owner did used it often, as the trigger's silver outlining was losing it's color taking turn of orange instead
"Thank you Arthur, I'll probably miss a lot with this y'know?"
He hysterically laughed at my remark
"Like I told you 'Then practice more' dummy" he took off, ushering his steed to go faster
I let out a breath I didn't know I held until now, sighing I took my look away from fading figure of Arthur and clutched the repeater with latent worry, my perturbation with the upcoming event didn't settle well for my anxiety
A noisy breathing opposite of me let me know of the saddled beast again, observing the horse I could she wasn't afraid nor alarmed at any rate
Well girl
I clumsily mounted the horse with an exertion
"Woah, okay… you're alright girl" I recited the canonized quote from the game
To my amazement the amiable mare maneuvered around the hitched horses and thick bushes guiding me into the open landscape with gradual tempo
"You doing good girl" I cheered
Pulling the reins gentle to right what I believed to west and Ranch of Down's family I guided Taima to go faster
"Ya! Let's go girl!" I shouted giving her a nudge, neighing she quickly started galloping
Sudden acceleration took me by surprise, leather seat of my saddle cushioning the fair rhythm of bouncing on her back
Woah, atleast riding went better than my shooting
An hour or two later galloping my rear was starting to ache little from cantering nonstop, peering down the road i could make out a contour of a Ranch and a certain sickly individual in the field haggardly active trying to harvest whatever he could from the field in his droopy state
I lightly stopped infront of the wooden fence I carefully hopped out of the steed
"Mr Downes?" I asked inspecting the man infront
"You, uh…" surprised the man babbled taking notice of my repeater on my back "Whatever do you want?"
"Take it easy Mr. Downes I'm just here to collect the debt sir, Mr. Strauss sent me" I gently said
Seeming to ease up a little at hearing me not threaten him or his family he put down his rake, clearing his throat a little
"I'm sorry sir, but it seems your trip here has been in vain *cough* and I ain't got much to pay off the debt sir… please" he pleaded moving to his fence gate
"We're not charitable people Mr. Downes time's due no-" said the man intervened my speech with his coughing fit, clutching his chest to ease the pain but in vain
"*cough* ahem… Sir I'm deeply sorry but we just don't have the money to pay off right now, my wife and my kids" looking at the house his eyes petrified "I'm just not in good condition to work and get the moneys back sir, and I've been having no such luck on mah recovery"
He stared his eyes red, face almost white as a ghost
Jesus
"Mr. Downes i- we're not-" sighing I moved closer to the man careful not to get a painful disease, I racked my brain trying to find a solution other than forcefully demand the money from him, finally giving up on my outburst
"Thomas sir… I know you're a good man, you've been helping around everyone with anything you could for nothing in return" gesturing to the field with a hand "and you work your ass off trying to feed your family, and reassure them with hope and a good life"
At my statement Thomas sat down not far from me looking down at the ground
"It's just… I can't think of a better reason to live without doing a good deeds *cough* … You can't get to live a bad life and good things happen to you" he rasped "And I sure lived a good life"
I stood there elbow on the fence silently musing to myself of what he said
This is fucked up
"Thomas?" new voice acknowledged beside us "Honey?" Edith Thomas approached us glancing at me warily
"Yes, dear I'm here" croaked Thomas standing up with effort "This sir here was just helping me around the field, helpful feller he is" chuckling to her wife
"Ma'am" I nodded kindly in response to his wife not trying to intimidate any further
"Pa?" Gazing back at the house I could make out another figure peeking from the open door
Heart beating rapidly I looked down in doubt of doing devil's work
From what I know he's dying shortly after this, maybe not today but soon. Well I could tell the man's dead to Strauss
Settling my own decision I moved away from them
"Well Mr. Downes Mrs. Downes" looking back at the married couple "You can think the debts cleared now, and Mr. Downs I'm sorry" I said in hurry eager to get away from heart clenching sorry state of another family "Mrs. Thomas" I addressed the woman "It's not much but it's all I got" before taking 6 dollars and quarter from the saddlebag and handing it to the shocked woman
Raising my leg to mount on the horse slim hand grabbed me from my arm stopping me further
Looking back to see Edith Downes holding my hand in gratitude, tenderly shaking my hand with tears in her eyes, behind her His son steadying his father, and his husband looking at me in silent appreciation with bright look even in a sickened condition
Must have been much needed comfort for them
I could only nod and swallow the large lump on my throat, trying my hardest not to look back again
Quickly mounting the trusted steed I turned towards the road where I came from, I felt miserable thinking back I could beat the dying man I met not long ago in the game without even remorse, tears staining my cheeks I didn't stop thinking about the family in debt, how my parents would act in a similar situation,
Get a grip Luke
My arrival at the camp alerted Charles standing guard not far from the camp
"Luke" he acknowledged tipping his brown Stetson in greeting
"Charles" I responded trying to imitate
"You look solemn"
Hopping from the steed I grabbed the reins and handed to him, emotion in turmoil
"She was very gentle" I uttered without giving him a chance to reply by walking at a brisk speed
I saw the senile german on a table watching Uncle and Swanson playing card games and Arthur standing beside them hands on belt cigar in his lips before taking notice of me
"There he is, the collector of the debts" sniggered Arthur putting out his cigar on the ground "So how did you-" I didn't let him finish
"He's dead arthur" I blurted "Tuberculosis, disease man he had a lung disease"
"Did you get the money?" probed Strauss standing up from his seat
The nerve on this man
Taking hold of him in iron grip in one hand
"You want me to loot a corpse?" I growled "Didn't you hear you damn moron" I hollered clutching his clothes on both arms "If arthur went in my stead to that bastard" I pointed with a finger at him "He would have gotten himself a damn disease, you shameful… bastard"
"Herr Morgan!" pleaded the german struggling in my grip trying to break free
"That's enough" yelled Arthur detaching me from the old man "You gotta know into your head, we ain't no charity" Arthur heatedly said on my face "calm yourself you damn fool" nudging me away from them
"And don't start a fight damnit, that's two you got yourself in someone's face in here" shouted behind me
Walking away from the trio I sat down beside the wooden substitute of a chair infront of the camp, not noticing the damn rat beside me
"Oh you're starting a trouble too early, on your second day being our family" said Micah chortling humorously "Catch" I caught a bottled liquid of what seems to be rum or vodka by the look of its colorless substance
"Gotta admit kid, ain't no one ever gave me what you did yesterday" clasping his jaw "and I like strong men" he added "as a friend of course! Hahaha" he laughed spitting to the fire and taking a long swig from his drink
I looked back at the drink, premising in my mind if I should drink it or not
Yeah, why not
Unscrewing the bottle I took a whiff of it's content, strong bitterly ethanol hit my nostrils making me flinch
"You drink it not smell it boy" said Micah amused "Look, kid we ain't met in the best of terms alright? But no one reckon would act on their best behavior when someone sprays a goddamn hot coffee your face ain't it?" he slurred narrowing his eyes at me
I guess
Him taking another gulp from the drink "You sure don't talk too much eh?" he said grimacing
on my silent treatment he finished rest of his drink and went on his way, likely to sleep away his alcohol
a few camp folks came around sat drinking, rehearsing their tales on how they robbed a bank, fought in war and proclaiming themselves like a champion especially Uncle and Pearson when he was still in the navy
by the time when night came my second bottle of whiskey this time, was half empty
"Luke" came rugged voice from beside
"Marston"
"You gonna sleep? You've been here sitting for hours and not much drinking"
"I'm not much of a slumberer anyway"
"You look more troubled than tired, friend" He said seating himself on a log beside me "First time taking someone's life?"
"No it wasn't like that John, there was this sick feller west from here" I said taking a short swig from the whiskey "He had nothing more than his wife and son, and I went there to collect their debt"
i said hands on my head drinking some more from whiskey scrunching my face from the taste of the liquir
"Yeah I know what it's like, damn I even had nightmare thinking about poor feller who died on my end of a barrel" he remarked solemnly "His head going all red splatter on the floor…"
Seeing my disgust he immediately clamped his mouth shut, sheepishly glancing around for something
"ahem, I uhh- I'm feeling little tired" standing up awkwardly staring somewhere else he added "Next time, friend"
Christ
Looking around the camp i could see Tilly and Mary Beth finishing up laundry and everyone else on bed or already sound asleep excluding Uncle and Reverand who seems to be slurring nonsense near the end of the camp
Whiskey finished I threw the bottle away from the camp into the woods and went to retire myself somewhere hoping I could sleep in my hammered state.
Or die maybe