The Course of True Love - Book l

Hanging Dog Ranch - A New Lease on Life

"What are we going to do?" Abigail cried, combing her fingers through Jack's hair, fighting the urge to cry more at the loss of her husband.

"We'll figure it out. Charles went to scout some land west of here. For now, we should wait until Minnie gets here for any more ideas. We should be good to sit here for a bit longer." Sadie sighed.

"Did-did Arthur not go with her?"

"What do you think, Abigail?" Sadie scoffed. "Hopefully, Minnie knocked some sense into him for talkin' the way he did."

"Momma, look! It's Papa!" Jack pointed, seeing John riding Dahlia, taking Arthur's mare as his own as to his knowledge, was the only living thing to remind him of Arthur.

"John!" Abigail cried, running to her lover, reaching her arms up to help ease him down from the tall mare as he winced from the pain in his shoulder. "Where you been, huh?" She sniffled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as Jack proceeded to hug his father's leg.

"I guess a little bit of everywhere," John frowned, watching Abigail look him over. "We, uh, we need to get out of here."

"Where we gonna go?" Tilly asked.

"Where's Arthur? Where's Minnie?" Abigail questioned.

"I-"

"You didn't see them?" Sadie frowned.

"No, I did, I... I don't know if they made it or not."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw them on the cliff when we made a run for it. Arthur said he'd stay behind to hold them off while me and Minnie would keep going, but Minnie went after him after she saw Micah trying to sneak up on Arthur to kill him. I don't know what happened from there." John explained.

"Where's this cliff at? I'll go look for 'em." Sadie offered.

"That ain't a very good idea." A familiar voice sounded from the distance.

"Arthur?" Tilly grinned.

"Uncle Arthur!" Jack giggled, running towards Trace, who was carrying both Arthur and Minnie at a comfortable walk. Smiling, Arthur pulled the gelding to a stop as he helped Minnie down from the saddle, reaching his arms out for Jack as he picked him up to hold him.

"It's over. It's all over." He mouthed to John, who was still wrapped in Abigail's embrace.

"So, what do we do now?"

"I say we wait for the dew to let off, then make our way down past Emerald Ranch to see Hosea. I'm sure he'd help us too."

"Hosea's alive?" Tilly gasped. "Dutch said that we lost him."

"Dutch said a lot of things. He doesn't know."

"He won't know. I won't tell a soul," Tilly nodded. "I've been thinking... Would it be too forward if I took a train to Saint Denis? I mean, I don't feel like I will be in much harm being in a city. It'll give me a chance to take a break and focus on my future."

"I don't think so," Minnie shrugged, assuring the young woman. "I think it'll be a good idea for you to be somewhere like Saint Denis. I can see the city life in you." She chuckled.

"I've always wanted to marry and have a little one of my own. I hope I'll be on the right track. I just want to avoid falling in with another gang or even talking to another gang."

"I understand. We'll all get a train in Annesburg and go on from there. I reckon we should start off by splitting this money we got." Minnie smirked, removing her satchel.