When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 9: Debt collector

The more time I spent with Peyton, the more my love for her, grew. None of the others, had yet grasped, that her and I had become an item. Usually, the others paid attention to the happenings around camp. It didn't matter if it was about what jobs were going down, or if it was about a certain gang member. Everyone knew each others business. Of course, I was grateful, nobody had caught on, yet. It made it easier for Peyton and I to open up about it, later on, when we were both good and ready.

At least, I'd hoped we would be the ones to open up, about it. However, it didn't end up going that way. Because damn it all, Leopold Strauss had to walk right up into our tent, while we were in the middle of making out.
"Mr. Morgan, what on Earth. Is goin' on here?" He asks.
"Guess the cat's outta the bag," I say, pulling away from Peyton, an apologetic look on my face, as I moved to face the man.
"How long has this been goin' on?" He asks.
I ignore him, and instead change the subject.
"What do you want, Strauss?" I ask.
"Don't change the subject, Mr. Morgan. Dutch will be furious, when he finds out, about this," he replies.
"He won't care. I mean, why should he and Marston be the only ones, happily with a woman?" I ask.

He doesn't respond. He just stands there, leering at me.
"So, was there a reason, you interrupted us, or no?" I ask.
"As a matter of fact, there is. But, we are far from finished, with our previous discussion. It will be brought up again, later," Strauss says.
"I'm sure it will. But, for now, what you need?" I ask.
"I got some debtor's, who are late on their payments," he says.
"Already? Dang, you work fast," I say.
"It's one of my many charms," he says.
"Oh, I know," I say, shaking my head.
"It's an easy way, to make money. Easier than any bank job," he says.
"Honestly, bank jobs are easier to handle. Takin' advantage of people, and then threatenin' em to get it back, not so much," I say.
"Coming from a man, who enjoys giving a good beating, when chance presents itself," Strauss says.

He wasn't entirely wrong, there. And I look at Peyton, trying to send her an apologetic look. That's when I notice, her stance. She's staring off into space, her body rigid, her face emotionless and unreadable. Something was wrong.
"Hold that thought, Mr. Strauss. Peyton, you alright? Peyton, talk to me," I say.
Suddenly, she rises to her feet and makes her way over to Strauss, ripping his ledger out of his hands.
"Hey, give that back," he says.
But she ignores him, looking at the names circled, at the top of the page. There were four, from what little I could see.
"We'll handle these three. But the last one, you find someone else, to handle," she says, her tone taking on an aggressive edge.

Taking his ledger back from Peyton, he glares at her.
"Hasn't anyone told you, it's rude to take from others?" He asks.
"Well, you're doing the same thing, are you not? Taking advantage of people, just to get money for the gang?" She asks, making some fair points.
"Well, yes. But, it's not such a dishonest way," he says.
"It is, when one of the people on your list, is a man who is gravely ill. A man, who's dying," she says.
"I've no idea, who you're referring to," Strauss says.
"Does the name Thomas Downes, sound familiar to you?" She asks.
"Oh, him. I'll admit, he was sick, when I spoke to him. Down with a cold or something," he says.
"Or something? The man has tuberculosis! A deadly disease, that kills off the immune system and blackens the lungs," she says.

Strauss stares at her, like she's gone mad. He backs up a few steps, seemingly fearful of her.
"You send someone else, or you let it slide. Either way, I will not have you sending Arthur, anywhere near the man. I will not let you kill him," she says.
"Alright. Take care of the other three, then. Just stay away from me," Strauss says, when Peyton has him cornered.
"Good. I'm glad we have an understanding. Arthur, hon, lets go," she says, stalking out of the tent.
I move to follow her, but am stopped by Strauss.
"That woman, is clearly mad. I don't know what you see, in her. Want my advice? Beware," he says, before scrambling his way outside and back across camp to his space.

I reach the hitching post, and ready my horse for departure. Mounting up, I turn and look at Peyton. She doesn't return it. Instead, she's looking straight ahead. But, there is no mistaking the small tear that was making its way, down her left cheek. And it got me to remembering what she'd told me, the first day we'd met. She'd said something about seeing me in a vision. Was it possible, that she'd actually told me the truth? If so, had she just had another one? I needed to talk to her, find out what she wasn't telling me. We turn our horses to the trail, and head out. The ride was silent, until we broke through the trees that hid our camp.
"Peyton, hold up," I say.
"We have a job, to do," she says, as I ride alongside her.
I grab the reins of her horse, slowing the mare down.
"We got time. Right now, it's time you and I rehash an old conversation. The one we had, in the bar, the first day we met," I say.
"I thought you'd forgotten that," she says.
"I won't lie. I had, until now. There's something you ain't tellin' me. If we're going to remain together, you need to tell me," I say.

She looks up at me, and lets out a shaky breath.
"Okay, but, not here. Do you remember how to get to the spot where we first kissed?" She asks.
"Of course. Come on," I say, turning our horses, opposite of the direction we were originally heading in, and leading the way, Peyton following close behind.
As we ride, I try and distract her.
"So, have you decided on a name for your horse, yet?" I ask.
"Not yet. Nothing seems to fit her," she says.
"You open to suggestions?" I ask.
"Sure," she says.
"Sunbeam," I say.
"Sunbeam?" She asks.
"Well, sure. She's golden, like a ray of sunlight. And she's got dapples that remind me of that very sunlight, breakin' through the clouds," I say.

She ponders this, and then smiles.
"I like it. Sunbeam," she says.
At this moment, her horse whinnies, much like my horse had, when he'd been given his name.
"She likes it, too," I say, laughing.
However, all traces of laughter and fun, disappear, when we finally reach our destination. We both dismount and head inside the nook, much like we had, the day of our first kiss. Only this time, we were here for a very different reason.
"So, will you tell me more, bout what you told me when we met?" I ask.
"I've not told anyone, about this. You're the first person, who actually knows about it. So, I need you to promise me, you won't say anything to anyone. Not even Dutch," she says.
"You can trust me. I won't say anythin'," I say.

She takes another shaky breath, before she meets my gaze once more.
"I know you thought I was crazy, that day. I know that you didn't believe me. But, remember when you asked me, if I was a Seer of sorts?" She asks.
"Yes, I remember," I say.
"It's true. I am. But, here's the strange thing. I was connected to another Seer. He told me what I was. He said you would know who he was. That you met once or twice," she says.
"I've met a lot of people, Peyton," I say.
"This man, he was old and blind," she says.

My jaw drops. I knew exactly who she was talking about. I had met an old man, who was blind. And when I'd helped him, he spoke to me, of things that made zero sense to me, until now.
"I know him, yes," I say.
"He's how I was able to know your name. He was there, when I had my first vision of you. I thought it had been a dream at first. But, I kept seeing it. He told me, that I was the key. The key to changing your fate," she says.
"And, Thomas Downes, he had a part to play, in that fate, didn't he?" I ask.
"Yes," she says, her voice cracking.

If I hadn't believed her before, I certainly believed her, now. She'd saved me not once, but, very possibly twice, now.
"That's why I reacted like I did. I couldn't let you go up there. I couldn't let you...couldn't watch you slowly succumb to that disease, and die," she says, falling to her knees, overcome with emotion.
I go to her, then. Taking her into my arms.
"Shh, Sweetheart. Nothin' is gonna take me away, from you. Nothin', you hear me?" I say, placing a finger beneath her chin, and lifting her head so she could meet my gaze.
"I'm stayin' right here. I ain't leavin' you. Not now, not ever," I continue.
"I love you," she says, sobbing against my shoulder.
"And I love you. I'll fight, to stay by your side," I say, kissing her forehead.

After a bit, we mount our horses once more, and go about collecting the debts of the three people we'd agreed to handle getting the money back from. We rode side by side, not wanting to lose sight of each other. I knew, that Strauss would talk about Peyton and I. I expected it. But, it didn't matter. We were both doomed. Doomed to a wonderful life, together.