Author's note: News! I might start working tomorrow or Tuesday so delays MAY start occurring.

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Chapter 22

When Arthur returned to the camp, he couldn't prevent cracking a warm smile. For some reason, despite the darkness looming over the camp at least from his tinted vision, the honorable outlaw never felt so light. It wouldn't last for long. He'd known it, not with the stench of Micah's vile nature and Dutch's plans hanging over them all. But he disregarded any concerns. For, in that moment, it'd felt like family. He tossed the bandana to the side.

It wasn't long before he noticed that Strauss was sitting on a nearby log, not seeing the glare Arthur had in his direction. This was an opportunity he had been waiting for. The thing he should have done last time.

The older man looked down at him. Arthur felt his rage rising, for all of those that have been wronged.

He started walking.

"Ah, hello there, Mr. Morgan," the man said, oblivious to his anger.

"Get up," Arthur said, waving his hand forward.

"Wha-" Strauss began, completely confused as to what was happening.

"Get up!" he gripped his back and led him down to the direction of his tent, causing all to look at him.

Fearful, Strauss cried out. "What are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago," he responded, pushing him forward. Impatient with him yet again, the gunslinger moved over and grabbed his bag.

"I don't understand..." Strauss protested, caught off-guard by these turns of events.

"I ain't gonna kill you, though I probably should. You disgust me! And you shame us and what this gang is supposed to represent!" Feeling like he wasn't moving fast enough, Arthur gripped the ledger and shoved it at his direction. He caught it instinctively. "That should be it! Leave! Leave now! If you ever come back here, I will put a bullet in your body." Go!"

"Why?"

Arthur responded, "Herr Strauss, I admit that I am not an expert when it comes to loan sharks. But I fail to see how one could ever hope to be repaid by a man who was busy dying of Tuberculosis, let alone how you could send me there. What do you think that would accomplish?"

Strauss' eyebrows disappeared into his headlines. "Tuberculosis? How do you know that?"

Arthur sneered. "I have done my research into tuberculosis." he fibbed. No, not exactly. He should have! Would have probably saved his sorry ass. He'd heard 'bout it, but never cared enough to look into it! "The man is working himself into the grave! And you wanted me to convince him to give some money."

"No! No! Mr. Morgan! You got it all wro-"

"The man was looking out for his goddamn family," Arthur growled, not giving him time to explain himself.

He gripped him by the collar and tossed him out. While the others were bemused, none dared to say anything.

He walked him out and camp, shouting. "Go and get a job!" tossing him out.

Strauss went forward but stopped himself. "You know... Dutch and Micah say that Blackwater changed you irreversibly. I was your friend..."

"You and me? We ain't decent. But those folks, they are. Spending our money on sick and lost? You have been squandering the camp's funds on misguided ventures for far too long. Your loans will be dissolved. The gang will survive without you." Arthur tossed money at him, "Now, here, take that. Take that, and get lost." He looked at the man getting ready to go on his patrol. "Bill, if he comes back or ain't out of here in an hour, shoot him."

The man seemed surprised by the haste in the usually patient man's tone, but he nodded. The orders were clear. Herr Strauss was not to step foot around camp again.

He would always regret getting involved with that endeavor!

"I'm-"

"Leaving," he interrupted, pointing in the opposite direction. Strauss hesitated, looking around for assistance, finding none.

"Come on," the confused Bill said loyally, gripping the man's shoulder and leading him sternly but not harshly.

While they went back to doing their various duties around camp, waiting for what came next, Arthur allowed himself to breathe easier. Without Strauss's influence around, persuading various members of the gang, namely Arthur, to do his dirty work, a lot of people were saved. He was a spineless loan-sharking piece of shit. But it would be a lie to say Arthur didn't feel guilty at least slightly. He was actually making money for the gang, but he was doing it the wrong way, "robbing" poor people who had no choice, like Thomas Downes. Strauss' philosophy went against everything the gang stood for. Deep down, Arthur didn't like what Strauss was doing for a long time, but he ain't say nothing.

It wouldn't be enough to save the gang. There were plenty of problems that involved just the entire situation.

He moved around the camp, noticing that some of the members were talking 'bout what just happened. Others were silent. Though all eyed him. There were a few greetings namely from Karen, Mary-Beth, and surprisingly Miss Grimshaw but that had been all. Moving further away, he could feel eyes still burning into him.

Now Arthur could focus on Dutch and Micah.

Speak of the son of the bitch and he shall appear.

"You'd gotten tired of making money, did you, Morgan?" The bane of his existence spoke.

"I don't have to explain myself to you, cowpoke," he responded.

"Ah, easy, softie," Micah rolled his eyes, "Herr Strauss... I thought you liked helping the weak and unfortunate."

"You're unfortunate and I don't like helping you." He really wanted to punch the bastard in the face. Part of him felt like he had a score to settle with him after that goddamn mountain. Why did his jaw have to be so tempting to break? Now, without TB, Arthur would plummet him, but the only restraints that came were killing Micah now and forcing folks to choose a side might make some think he'd gone crazy and side with Dutch in their best interests if it went that low.

Micah chuckled, eyes glistened with amusement. "Very amusing, just try and stop making more trouble for us. Some of us are trying to save folks. Not making..." he sniffed somewhat, "unnecessary drama."

Arthur countered, "Coming from the man who encouraged Dutch to kill that woman on that ferry, that is rich."

"You're still on that?" he laughed. "That woman was a real piece of work. She was going to get us all caught. Dutch killing her avoided that. We're safe now, aren't we? Up in all of this..." he added in a mocking voice, hands outstretched as he grinned at Arthur, "civilization. Use your brain, Morgan," the hiss in his voice was obvious, "you and that old coon questioning Dutch is going to get us all killed." He indicated to Hosea sitting.

"That "old coon" have been around even longer. He's the one who's going to save us." Arthur snapped back.

"You're biting off more than you're chewing, Morgan. Dutch needs us all to be ready to do what must be done."

Dressed in her yellow top, Sadie approached. Damn.

"Oh, and here's the lovely lady," Micah grinned. "Quite a fine piece of work." He turned to Sadie. "Come on, you don't want to go with Morgan. Come over to a real man."

Sadie stepped back, but she kept her eyes narrowed, fists clenched. If Micah'd laid even one hand on her...

The widow replied, "When he shows up, you tell me."

The rat piece of shit placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense, "Oh, oh, oh, you know you remind me a lot of myself."

"I will seek to correct that," the woman responded.

Arthur motioned. "Get lost before I break your teeth."

"Yes, sir!" Micah laughed and fake saluted, walking away.

Arthur glared after him, but addressed Sadie, "Don't listen to him. He's a goddamn idiot, Mrs. Adler."

"Don't worry, I won't." she laughed slightly. "I'd almost thought you have drove off the edge of the cliff. You were gone all day." she continued with a slight smile.

"Boy, I wish," he said back sarcastically. "Come on, let's go."

The two left the camp.

Arthur approached the Walker, which Kieran was feeding. The man stopped and nodded at him, but eyed Sadie longer than necessary, a small smirk crossing his lips. Arthur would get him later for that one.

"Ah, so you still kept the horse?" she asked flatly, eyeing the horse.

"I lost my other horse in Blackwater." Part of him still missed that damn steed. He would never forget Ryan getting shot by Pinkertons. The horse sniffed as if sensing his sadness, allowing Arthur to place his hand on his neck. "Got attached to him quickly."

Sadie nodded in understanding.

Arthur climbed on top with the woman following behind and he pulled on the reins, taking off. Arthur rode his horse to town. Contrary to normal trips, the two were silent. It wasn't out of the awkwardness of being with one another, but the fact that Arthur and Sadie didn't have much to talk 'bout. He didn't care to entertain her with anything that hadn't been happening in his life, and Sadie didn't care to probe.

At this point, they'd just met. The gang hadn't shown any signs of collapsing despite all of the problems faced so far. In those days of a future that may or may not come to be, it was just them against the entire world.

He'd guessed he should enjoy more of his time. Now that he had longer to live, he didn't have to worry 'bout which day would be the last. And his new attitude seemed to be effective.

Simply put, Arthur didn't trust folks in Valentine. He knew that Sadie shouldn't get into too much trouble, but there were sketchy folks out here who wished for any woman they could get their hands on. Arthur could admit that some were even worse than Micah 'cause they had ways to bribe the government.

The so-called incorruptible lawmen.

He parked Ryan in front of the restaurant, and after hitching the steed, walked with Sadie at his side inside.

"Never been here before," Sadie smiled, her face beaming as she looked at the outlaw. "Try not to get us lost."

"I have good navigation skills." he grinned.

"You men are egoistical, ain't you?"

"Only the best of us," Arthur replied with a smile and roll of his eyes as they walked up.

"Whatchu want?" The man at the counter of the restaurant inquired.

"Give me pig's feet, beans, and butter. And what 'bout you, Sadie?"

"Sausage and dried pumpkins."

They sat at the table, opposite one another, at the isolated corner of the restaurant.

Arthur didn't know what to say but went along with Sadie's talk. He wasn't a man of many words. No, that was always Dutch and even Lenny and Hosea's expertise.

When the food was delivered to both, they began to eat. It had been a long time since Arthur've even been brought with a person of the opposite gender. He didn't realize how much he'd missed it. For so long, he'd abandoned the feeling of attempting to find a woman in place of misplaced loyalty that had gotten him killed. Yet, it... wasn't like that. He'd viewed Sadie as a great friend, someone who he could trust would take on armies of snakes and go down trying to kill them all.

They engaged even more conversation 'bout the food. Arthur personally believed it was good while Sadie believed she "tasted better". Ever the picky and feisty one. Slowly, the conversation bubbled into full laughter. He wondered what was that feeling bubbling inside of him. As he sat there, laughing and smiling at Sadie, with her doing the same in return, Arthur Morgan found himself finding feelings thought dead long ago reshaped for...

Sadie Adler?!

It was the feeling he'd shared with Mary. It emerged briefly when he'd found Charlotte Balfour, though not as intensely as it was now. What was this? Why? He ain't felt this before with Sadie. What was going on?

This Sadie Adler was not the one who managed to convince herself that she overcame what she'd done to the O'Driscolls and attempted to shrug it off that revenge gave her completion.

This Sadie Adler wasn't thinking right.

She ain't yet moved on from that traumatic event in the best way she knew how, but he'd seen the way her eyes brightened around him. The fact that she smiled when they instantly began to bond. Last time, he didn't exactly ignore her, but there wasn't much of a friendship until his dying days of TB.

Arthur was left wondering about these feelings when they arrived back at camp.

Sadie moved in the direction of her assigned tent before she stopped and turned around, her face even brighter for the first time Arthur've seen in weeks.

"You have done so much for me with this alone," Sadie said, gripping his shoulder. "I'm... real thankful."

"Just doing what I have to do," Arthur dismissed, keeping his head down.

Annoyance came across her face now. "Are you kidding? That was above and beyond. You have been very supportive of me even when we'd just met. Mr. Duffy too. A slave to the O'Driscolls. You're a good man, Arthur Morgan."

He actually was tempted to tone, "I'm just doing what I had to do, Mrs. Adler."

"Between you and me, I wouldn't have stayed here if it wasn't for you, not after that bastard died."

"All that ain't necessary, ya know. If you want to leave one day, you could."

"No," Sadie said, "I... just wish there were more good people like you in the world."

Arthur huffed a hoarse laugh again. He doubted that many people would like that comparison to him, alluding to all of his previous crimes.

"You don't want that."

"'Course I do!" She snapped. "If more people were like you, maybe the world would be a better place."

Kieran? Now Sadie? They were driving him into horse's shit.

"You got it all wrong, Sadie, I'm a bad person, even though I dislike killing and threatening."

"Well ain't we all?"

He sighed, "I'm-I'm the worst."

"No you ain't, just take the fucking compliment, would you?" The slimmer of the Sadie Adler from a future time pierced through in this shiny moment, a scowl across her lips. "You're a better man than you give yourself credit for. And forgive me, but I was thinking that you didn't choose to live this goddamn life."

"I don't think you kno-"

Sadie looked at him sharply, and Arthur hushed.

Eventually, she breathed and said, "Let's live together someday."

Arthur's blood went cold. What? He was surprised more when he wanted to say yes. He craved it, he craved it so badly. There was no reason to stay as part of the gang in its current state. They didn't have to stay down here, not with the Pinkertons hunting down outlaws and gangs like animals in a dry season. But, he couldn't. She just lost her husband, and for the sake of what happened, Arthur wouldn't hurt another woman better off somewhere else.

"You're still mourning."

Sadie deflated slightly. "You can just say no."

"It's ain't like that."

"Then what is it like?"

"It's more that there are more important things in the world." Like ensuring Dutch ultimately doesn't hurt other folks. "I ain't able to choose to abandon that and run off into the sunset. I highly doubt I'm your idle version of a man you would want to be with, ma'am."

She fought on, "What if I say you are?"

"Then I say you should look around you. Find others." he responded, his tone getting rougher again.

She seemed to process all of the words, her eyes expanded, before she nodded and relaxed her shoulders.

"Thanks, Mr. Morgan, for your companionship."

She laid a kiss on Arthur's cheek and walked away.

Arthur's note: I always wished they did more with Sadie's development. I thought it was jarring how she goes from timid housewife to badass gunslinger almost entirely offscreen. And then they try to hand wave it by saying she could always do that. That would have been an interesting character arc had we seen it happen. As it is, I'm not sure why Sadie wasn't just introduced as her Chapter 6 self from the beginning.

I get that it was mentioned in the game that she was hunting, shooting, and knew how to handle a knife when she was married because she and her husband shared the workload. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for strong female characters and won't make her just be behind Arthur when I develop her. I want her to be the gunslinger that we all know and love instead of a simple cook. Maybe even better somehow if Arthur rubs off of her. There's still plenty of time left after all.