When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 15: Loose ends

There'd always been heated arguments, going on within camp. Someone bickering about something. Right now, Hosea and Dutch were bickering about the treatment Peyton and I had received, upon returning to camp. And from what I could hear, as I was walking away, a few choice words, were being uttered amongst the two. Words, that I was glad Jack wasn't around to hear. Abigail had always made a point, about foul language being used, in front of her son. She heard so much as one foul word, and she was on us, giving us an earful of what she thought, about it. And all the time, we all knew, she wasn't no saint either and had messed up, a few times herself. Even still, she tried her best, to teach her son, proper mannerisms. If only the rest of us, had been brought up like that.

Once inside my tent, I breath a sigh of relief. Relief, that Hosea had cut in when he did. But, also relief, that I didn't have to hear what was likely to be a rather ugly argument between him and Dutch. However, that relief quickly faded, when I glanced up, and noticed Peyton throwing daggers, with the glare she was suddenly giving me.
"You okay?" I ask, confused by the sudden shift in her mood.
She doesn't say anything. Just stalks over to me, and shoves a folded piece of paper, roughly at my chest, before continuing to stalk her way outside.
"What the hell, what's gotten into you, all of a sudden?" I call after her, as her footsteps fade, moving further and further away.

Unfolding the sheet of paper, I glance down at it, and groan when I recognize the handwriting. Mary. She'd decided to write me, after all these years. And Peyton, had seen it, had read it. Great. Now I wished even more, that we hadn't come back here. Bracing myself, I open the letter and begin reading.
Dear Arthur,
I've written this letter a hundred times or more and cannot get it right. It's me. You know it's me from the bad handwriting. I know I said when we last spoke and I was going off to get married, that we would not speak again. I know I said a lot of things and I meant them, I suppose, at the time. But, I am not so proud as not to speak to people who care for me, or cared for me.

I've been in Valentine for a couple of months. I ran into some trouble and it's a long story. And not an interesting one. I saw some of the girls or whatever polite term you use for them, in town with some of your associates. And I had heard tell of a man, that sounded like you. I'd love to see you, again if you can spare me a little bit of your time. I'm staying up at Chadwick Farm. I'm renting a room there.
Yours,
Mary Linton.

"Oh for Christ's sake," I say, folding the letter and placing it in my pocket, before heading out to search for Peyton. It didn't take me long to realize, that she'd left camp. Alone.
"Goddammit!" I say, frustration and worry, coursing through me, at once.
"You lookin' for Peyton?" Hosea asks, as I unhitch Nobu and mount up.
"Where's she gone, Hosea, did she say?" I ask.
"No, but, she took the path to the left, towards the creek," he says.
"Thanks," I say, before I push Nobu forth.
I followed the tracks Sunbeam had left behind. It didn't take me long, to spot the golden mare, still very much at a fast paced gallop, ahead of me. Pushing Nobu faster, I work to catch up with her.

Finally, I ride alongside Peyton, taking hold of the horses bridle and pulling back, slowing my horse in the process.
"Are you crazy?" I ask Peyton, once we were at a standstill.
"I'm the one, who should be asking that. Why didn't you tell me, about her?" Peyton asks.
"Because, she's not important," I say.
"You expect me, to buy that, Really?" She snarls.
"Yes. Because, what Mary and I had, was a long time ago. When I was twenty-one," I say.
"Right. Yet she's writing you. That makes sense," Peyton snaps.
"I ain't involved with her, Peyton," I say.
"Then why is she writing you?" She asks.
"I don't know. But, I am not involved with her. So, if you are thinkin' that, you best stop now," I say.
"I'm sorry. But, when you give a man your heart, then this happens out of the blue, it's hard not to," she says.
"I ain't leavin' you. I love you, Peyton. Nobody else, you understand?" I ask.

Then suddenly, she started wheeping.
"We made love, Arthur," she says.
"Yes. And it was beautiful, passionate, pure, and real," I say.
"Did you ever make love, to her?" She asks.
"No. Our relationship never really got off the ground. Her daddy, he didn't like me. He picked the man she should marry and she chose that man, over me. I knew, I seen it comin'. But, her and I, we never had what you and I have, Peyton," I say.
"Honest to God?" She asks.
"Honest to God," I say.
She meets my gaze, then. And she gives me a weak smile.
"Look, will you ride, with me?" I ask.
"Where?" She asks.
"To tell Mary off, that's where," I say.
"And if she doesn't listen to you, keeps writing you, what then?" She asks.
"I won't respond. I'll burn every damn letter. Startin' with this one," I say, patting my pocket.

After a moment, Peyton nods, turning her horse back the way we had both come.
"Okay. I'll ride with you. Besides, it could be fun, seeing the look on her face, when she sees us together," she says.
"My point, exactly. Besides, I don't do loose ends," I say.
"Well then, lets take care of those," Peyton says, pushing Sunbeam back in motion.
I follow her lead. Riding close to her side. I reach my hand out, and Peyton takes it, as we ride hand in hand, to Chadwick Farm, where Mary was in for a rather rude awakening.