The Big Secret!

The secret

I didn't want to tell Arthur or Hosea that I had a son, although I've known them for 20 some years. One day Arthur came back  from town, from checking the mail. It turned out that I had received a letter from an unknown alius;  I opened it and it was from my son, Max. I haven't seen him since he was two years old. "Dutch, I've seen your name in the paper a lot quite recently. And I've been getting a name for myself, same as you. I've been running solo for a few years now, and I've been wanting to ask if I can be a part of your gang. -Max." I stared at the letter, my mind overwhelmed with thoughts. Once I prossed everything I called Arthur and Hosea over to my tent. "I've been hiding something from you since 1883. Something that's a big deal, at least for me, anyway." "What is it?" Hosea asked me. I exhaled "Well, I have a son. His name is Max, and he's made a name for himself just how we have. And he's been running solo, for a few years. And he wants to join the gang. So, should we let him?" "I mean, he's your son. It's up to you." Arthur said. "We're gonna have a new gang member."I murmured. I took out my pen and paper and started writing. "Max, I've brought up you joining the gang, to my right hand men, Hosea Matthews, and Arthur Morgan. And they're okay with you joining the gang. I will be in town next week at 10am. If you want,  meet me at the saloon. But call me Alden.-Dutch." *One Week Later* I went to town to wait for Max. I went straight to the bar and ordered a whiskey.  Somebody walked up to me "Alden, How've you been?" I looked over to see my son after fifteen years of not seeing him. "I'm good, you?" "I'm fine." I motioned towards the door. "It's good to see you, son. Last time I saw you was when you were real young. " '' It's been a long time." Max said while mounting his horse. "Well, follow me I'll show you were we're held up, for now." "After you then." Max said motioning ahead of us. "So I have to ask. What got you to pursue a life like this? Being an outlaw and sutch." I asked him. "Well, I don't exactly know. I killed a fella when I was younger. I've been on the run ever since." "Did you now. You're kinda like one of our members. His name is John, John Marston. His father got blinded and died in a bar fight when he was eight, his mother died during childbirth. He killed someone when he was eleven. He was about to be lynched in Illinois, he was twelve. But I saved him. Then a few weeks ago he almost got himself eaten by some wolves." "He's had a wild life alright." I started thinking of how things could've been. "You alright Pa?" "Yeah, I guess, and call me Dutch." "I can tell you were thinking of something; What was it?" I sighed "I was just thinking, about how you could've had a much better life." We finally got back to camp. Arthur and Hosea walked up to us. "Arthur, Hosea, this is Max." Hosea says "Well, you can stay here as long as you need." John walks up us "You must be John?" Max asks "That's me." Max walks with John talking about how they relate. I walk over to Hosea "If he dies, I don't know what I'll do." "I don't know. But, we will  make sure he doesn't. I can promise you that." Arthur walked up to me and told me, "I can't lie to you. If he does, it's going to hurt a lot. You know how Hosea was after Bessie died. That's how it is. It's not easy to get over." My mind was starting to go through every possible way for Max to die. I was astonished with all the thoughts that went through my mind. I walked back to my tent and I knew that I had a dazed look on my face. I sat on my cot and comed my hands through my hair. And looked down at the floor. Then one of my members, Micah Bell came up to me and he told me that he had possibly found a decent take. It was a bank, a big one, in the city.