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Chapter 29
John leaned back against the old oak tree at Horseshoe Overlook, the bark rough against his back. The sun was setting, though after what it happened, it was unlikely sleep would come. The gang would be moving on soon somewhere, especially since those O'Driscolls raised hell on the goddamn place.
A fire crackled nearby, its warmth inviting as the evening chill set in. He glanced over at Arthur Morgan, who was sitting across from him, nursing a cup of water.
Arthur looked different every time he looked closer. He couldn't quite place it, but it gnawed at him like an itchy that he couldn't reach. They had been through thick and thin together, more than most, but yet again as a lot recently, Arthur seemed… distant, as if he was carrying something heavy on his shoulders.
"Hell of a day," John said, breaking the silence. His voice sounded louder than he intended in the stillness of the evening.
Arthur grunted in response, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He was always a man of few words, but tonight, the silence between them felt different.
John frowned. "You alright, Arthur? You ain't been talking a lot nowadays."
Arthur took a sip of his water, then set the cup down beside him. "Just thinking, I guess," he replied.
"'Bout what?"
Arthur hesitated. "'Bout all this," he said finally, gesturing vaguely around the camp with a sweep of his hand. "Dutch, the gang, this life we've been living."
John raised an eyebrow. "Ain't nothing new to think about there, is there?"
Arthur's eyes met John's, and for a moment, John saw something in them. "Maybe it is," Arthur replied silently. "Maybe it's about time we started thinking a bit harder."
John shifted uncomfortably. This was unusual, even for Arthur. "What're you getting at?"
Arthur looked away, back toward the fading sun. "You ever think about the future, John? About where all this is heading?"
John shrugged, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up his spine. "Dutch says we're gonna find a place where we can be free. Get away from all this, start fresh."
"Yeah, Dutch says a lotta things," Arthur grumbled, almost to himself.
John frowned. "You doubting Dutch now?"
Arthur didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a match. He took a long drag before speaking again. "Ain't that I'm doubting him," he said slowly. "But I've been thinking… all these years, we've been following Dutch, believing in his vision. But what if… what if he's wrong?"
The words hung in the air between them. John stared at Arthur, his mind racing. Dutch wrong? The thought had crossed his mind in Blackwater, but now Arthur Morgan of all people seemed to echo his tjoughts. Dutch had saved him, taken him in when he was nothing, given him a purpose. But now, hearing Arthur, the man he once trusted most after Dutch, voice these doubts… it shook something in him.
"What're you saying, Arthur?" John asked, his voice low like that child he once was.
Arthur sighed, coughing slightly at the cigarette before tossing it away. "I'm saying we might be heading down a path we can't come back from," he said. "You ever think about that? How all this might end?"
John's mouth was dry. He had thought about it, in the quiet moments when he was alone, but he had always pushed those thoughts aside, burying them under his loyalty to Dutch, to the gang. But now, hearing Arthur voice those fears… it was like a dam had broken inside him.
"Dutch has always had a plan," John said, but the words sounded hollow even to him. "He wouldn't let it down. Not now."
Arthur nodded slowly. "He hasn't before. People change. And I ain't so sure Dutch is the same man he used to be."
John opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. Deep down, he knew Arthur was right. He had seen it too, the way Dutch had become more reckless, more desperate. But saying it was something else entirely.
"What do you think we should do?" John asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arthur exhaled, as of he was still smoking. "I think we need to start thinking 'bout a way out, John. Before it's too late. Before this life swallows us whole."
John's heart pounded in his chest. A way out. He had thought about it before, when he looked at Abigail and Jack, but it had always seemed like a dream, something too far out of reach. But now, with Arthur saying it…
"Leave the gang?" John asked, the words tasting foreign in his mouth.
Arthur looked at him. "I ain't saying we gotta do it today, or tomorrow. But someday… maybe. We're gonna have to, if we want any chance at a real life. Otherwise…" He trailed off, but John knew what he was going to say. Otherwise, they were all going to end up dead, swung by the law.
Arthur grunted and looked own. "Every job with Micah has gone wrong."
"So what do you think we should do? Cut him loose?" John inquired. He wasn't an idiot. Okay, he was, but all he knew was that Micah liked starting trouble. The man was a bridge waiting to explode. If something ain't changing soon, and Dutch didn't hold a leash over Micah, something drastic might happen.
"I doubt Dutch will approve," Arthur responded. "And it ain't just Micah. Dutch has to make the choice whether or not to listen to us and Hosea."
John nodded slowly. He had always trusted Arthur's instincts, and if Arthur was saying this… maybe it was alright to at least start listening.
"Alright," John said finally. "I'll think 'bout it. But not a word to Dutch."
Arthur nodded, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. "Not a word," he agreed.
They sat in silence for a while longer, the fire being the only noise. John stared into the flames, his mind a whirl of thoughts. The life he had known, the life he had lived for so long, suddenly felt fragile, like it could all come crashing down at any moment.
And for not the first time, John began to truly doubt the man who had been like a father to him.
The night deepened, the fire in the center of camp casting long shadows on the tents and wagons. John still sat by the fire, trying to find warmth against the chill creeping through the air. But it wasn't just the chill of the night that made him uneasy.
In less than an hour, John Marston was face to face with Arthur Morgan, but now, it was the dissenters to his brother whom he had faced.
Across from him, Micah Bell lounged back against a log, his hat tipped low over his eyes, a smug grin playing on his lips. Javier Escuella and Bill Williamson sat close by. That wasn't what he liked. Just how much was Bill and Javier was changing? Sean MacGuire lingered nearby, his usual rowdy demeanor lessened, a look of discomfort etched on his expression at the unlikely group. Lenny Summers sat beside John, his arms crossed, his gaze hard as he listened to the others.
Discomfort etched in his gut. Things were happening far too quickly.
"So what's going on here?" John asked the trio of gunslingers, trying to quash this feeling.
"I spoke to Dutch. We're going to get more folks to join the gang soon."
John arched a eyebrow. Dutch just agreed to that without observation or something? Well, as if anything was different with him and Micah these days. Ever since Micah joined up, Dutch hadn't been acting rationally. "Who?"
"Boys who used to ride with me, Cleet and Joe."
John nodded at once. "Alright, as long as Dutch approves."
"We might as well need it, since Morgan's been nothing but trouble lately," Micah said, his voice laced with disdain. "Always back talking Dutch, questioning his decisions. After all Dutch has done for him, it's like he's forgetting who's kept him fed and safe all these years."
Javier nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Dutch pulled Arthur out of the gutter, gave him a life when he had nothing. But now all Arthur does is stir up doubt, always bringing up what happened at Blackwater. We can't have that. Not with everything we're facing."
Bill grunted in agreement, his large arms crossed over his chest. "Dutch needs us to stand by him, now more than ever. If Arthur can't get on board, then maybe we oughta think about what's best for the gang. He's been pushing back too much, and it's starting to cause real problems."
John clenched his fists, holding back the urge to jump in. The idea of cutting Arthur loose felt like a betrayal. Arthur had been there for him more times than he could count. Sure, he might have been at odds with Dutch lately, but that didn't mean he wasn't loyal. But before John could speak, Lenny beat him to it.
A distant memory where Hosea and Dutch were out for a few days and Arthur covering his little brother up on a bed, promising them their fathers would return, embedded in his mind.
"Arthur ain't the only one who's changed," Lenny said, his voice tight with anger as he looked hard at Javier. "Seems to me you've been spending a lot more time around Micah, Javier. Maybe you oughta take a look at yourself before you start talking about cutting someone loose. Arthur might be speaking his mind, but at least he's got the guts to stand up when he sees something wrong."
Javier's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't back down. "I'm looking out for the gang, Lenny. Someone has to. Micah's right. Arthur's been causing trouble, questioning Dutch, and it's making things worse."
Finally, John couldn't hold his tongue any longer. He stood up. "Morgan's been with Dutch for twenty years," he declared tightly. "He's always been loyal, even when it's cost him. Dutch might've done a lot for Arthur, but Arthur's done just as much for Dutch. You're all talking like Arthur's the enemy, but he's the one who's been keeping us together when things get tough. If he's speaking up now, maybe we should listen instead of talking about cutting him loose."
Micah sneered, leaning forward, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "Arthur's lost his way, Marston. He's been stirring the pot, making things harder for Dutch. We don't need that kind of trouble right now. Dutch needs us to be solid, and Arthur's been anything but."
John stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Micah's. "Arthur ain't making trouble for the sake of it. He's just tryinh to make sure we don't end up dead. Dutch might've saved him, but that don't mean Arthur's gotta keep his mouth shut when things are going wrong. He's earned the right to speak his mind."
He paused, allowing them to think.
"Arthur is a little troubled. Blackwater has changed things-maybe you guys should talk to him."
Javier argued. "No, I tried talking. I... I... I..." he stammered, "tried to make him be faithful to Dutch. I tried everything a man could reasonably try and still call himself a man."
John decided to make a off-handed quip, "So what are you going to do? Kill him?"
His joke was dry. Lenny and Sean shot him glares. Micah looked partially amused, too amused for John's liking. Bill laughed.
Javier looked at him as if he'd gone mad. "Hey I didn't say that, amigo."
"I was joking!" John exclaimed.
Javier didn't reply, looking down. Micah assumed control of the conversation. "But what else choice will there be? If Morgan gets cut loose, he might get apprehended by the law."
"I doubt-" Javier started, eyes widening.
"Come on, Javier, remember. Loyalty." John felt like there was something he was missing here.
"Loyalty," Javier repeated, as if under control some sort of spell.
John grew angrier. "Well, you can't kill him." Not like Micah could get close to him. Arthur would destroy him in a gun battle. It would take some element of surprise or territorial advantage for Micah to actually win.
"No..." He acknowledged, much to John's surprise. But he felt the impending doom sting at his consciousness. "But you can."
Sean cursed some Irish words John didn't understand.
Lenny followed suit. "Micah-!"
John paused, the chilliness growing in his spine. Of all the... "M-me?" he began, gasping.
"If you're loyal to Dutch, I mean," Micah shrugged. "If he steps out of line... It's perfect! He won't see it coming."
No, John would never kill Arthur. Never! "But I don't want to." Was all he could say.
"Neither do I, John-" For some reason, he didn't believe that. "-but if he goes insane, we'll all be dead anyway. I mean, Arthur is a killer. He'll be dangerous if he is against us."
John moaned. "I don't like this conversation."
Javier's expression became angrier. "Do you think that either of us do, John? But it's killed or be killed out here. We have to be careful, cabrón."
John couldn't deny the anger that formed within his chest. Arthur and Javier were close before all of this. Now, it seemed like since Arthur started questioning things, Micah filled the role for Javier.
"Arthur saved your life multiple times, and you're actually thinking he needs to die?!"
John paused.
"Come on, Javier, this ain't you."
Javier's eyes were as hard as steel. "I'm loyal to my family. Dutch is my family. Arthur is too, but if he's causing trouble, cutting him loose might be the only option."
"No," John said lowly, his face flashed with something dark, "you're letting him get into your ears, Javier, you gotta think. Think for yourself. We ain't gonna cut Arthur loose. We can't. Arthur have been behind us for so long. Every job with Micah has gone wrong."
Before the argument could escalate further, Sean, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his Irish brogue cutting through the tension. "Now hold on a second, lads," Sean stated. "Arthur's been a pain in Dutch's arse lately, no doubt about that. I'm not saying Dutch don't deserve some respect, especially after Blackwater. We all know it's been a shite show, and Dutch's been under a lot of pressure. But Arthur… he's like a big brother to me. Always been there when I needed him, y'know?"
Sean paused, looking between the men around the fire, his expression conflicted. "I don't like seeing him butt heads with Dutch, but I sure as hell don't wanna see him cut loose either. We've been through too much together. Arthur might be giving Dutch a hard time, but that's 'cause he cares about this gang, same as all of us."
Javier shook his head, his expression hard. "This isn't about feelings, my little friend. It's about survival. Arthur's been undermining Dutch for too long. If we don't do something about it, it's gonna tear us apart."
John couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked around at the faces in the firelight, searching for some sign of understanding, of loyalty, but all he saw were hardened expressions and cold eyes.
Before, since Arthur ain't ever let him live get down, 'bout leaving Jack and Abigail for a year, John might have taken it as an opportunity to badmouth Arthur. To taunt him and go to Dutch, telling him of what he heard from Arthur.
However...
Now...
Now, John was uncertain. He, too, have been doubting 'bout where Dutch was heading with his plans since he blew out Heidi McCourt's brains on that ferry in Blackwater. For the third senior member of the gang to doubt Dutch and Hosea, especially the former who have been changing since Micah came around, John knew that shit was going to be different sooner or later.
"Arthur's always had the gang's best interests at heart," John argued, realizing that the protective fury he had for his older brother always was there. Maybe, some part of him-who felt a call to responsibility, wanted to mend the ropes with Morgan and make their bond as strong as it once was. "He ain't perfect, but he's loyal. Dutch knows that, and so should you."
Micah leaned back, his smirk returning. "Arthur's been poking the bear too long, John. Dutch doesn't need someone questioning him at every turn, especially not now. If Arthur can't get in line, then maybe he's the one who's lost his way."
Lenny was evidently disgusted and didn't even try to hold it in. "Arthur's the one who's been keeping this gang together when Dutch's plans don't go right. Maybe y'all need to remember that before you start talking about who's loyal and who ain't."
Sean sighed, looking at John with a mixture of sympathy and worry. "I don't want to see this gang fall apart, John. We've all got too much at stake. But if Arthur keeps pushing Dutch, it ain't gonna end well for anyone. I just hope he sees sense before it's too late."
John looked around at the men, his heart disbelieving. The gang was starting to crack. Never before they actually killed someone. He knew Arthur was strong, but with the way things were going, he feared that strength might not be enough.
"Arthur's always stood by Dutch," John said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "And I'll stand by Arthur, no matter what. But if we don't find a way to pull this gang back together, we're all gonna pay for it."
Author's note: I know Javier's current attitude to Arthur is... unsettling. But this is what we have to remember. Javier doesn't know what Arthur knows. All he knows is that Arthur one day woke up and randomly questioned Dutch. Right now, Arthur is pretty much filling the role John had in the gang because he took much of it off of John which makes life easier for him. I think if Javier from 1911 came back in time, he wouldn't be as loyal to Dutch. But that's not what this story entails.
Someone like Sean is more conflicted because he did defend Dutch about Blackwater not too dissimilar to Javier but he looks to Arthur as a older brother figure. He's very 50/50. Lenny is firmly in Arthur's corner since you can see him actively doubting things even in Colter in the game and now with Arthur doing so he isn't alone in this.
Lenny and Sean are practically seeing Chapter 6 in Chapter 2. It's not anyone's fault entirely. Arthur can't stop looking at Dutch with contempt because the events of the mountain cut deep. Dutch don't know why Arthur lost faith in him all of the sudden. And people are already conflicted and confused.