When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 32: Final throwdown

Having a strong will, made it easier to heal quickly. Surviving, I'd always been good at. It seemed to me, that with each new injury, each new scar, I came out of it much stronger, than I was previously. Even still, the others had taken turns tending to me, till now. John and I had grown closer. Who would've thought, that a man who'd walked away from his own family years before, a man I'd come to loath, could end up being the best damn brother under the sun, to me? Before, conversing with each other, it had been awkward. Like being the odd one out at a party. The lanky kid, whom nobody wanted to be seen with. Now look at us.

Having Mrs. Adler around, too, had helped. That woman was still as good with a gun, as she had been taking out them Lemoyne raiders, many months back. The woman could track, hunt, and kill a bear, with one shot straight between its eyes. Not once, since we'd all cut out on our own, had we eaten so well, as we did the night she downed that grizzly. Even still, we had some of the meat we'd smoked over the fire, from it. However, our time here, was quickly coming to an end. I'd mentioned, while still laid up in bed, that we would all be parting ways, once I got back on my feet again. I'd meant it, even though the thought hurt. However, I decided to keep the others around, a bit longer.

I couldn't explain it. But, I had the feeling that trouble would soon again, come calling. Dutch wasn't one to give up easily, when it came to people leaving him. The same could be said of us. Micah, Bill, and Javier, they could've killed me that night. But, they hadn't. They'd left me to live. Which told me, all I needed to know. Dutch would soon be gracing us, with his presence. And I'd be damned, if it happened here, in the place where all the most precious memories I had, had taken place.
Rising to my feet, I make my way over to the fire, where the others sat, conversing.
"I think it's time, we left this place," I say, taking a seat across from John.
"Why? We haven't had anymore trouble, since that night. We're fine here, ain't we?" Abigail says.
"That may be so. But, did you notice that them boys, didn't kill me? They damn well could have. Yet, they kept me alive. You all know why," I say.
"We got one final throwdown, with them," Peyton guesses.
"Exactly. Y'all know, Dutch don't take kindly to anyone leavin'. Which leads me to believe, he'll be showin' up with the others, soon 'nough," I say.

The others nod, realizing my words rang true.
"This may sound crazy. But, we need to be in a place more open, but with ample hidin' spots, should bullets start flyin'," I say.
"You're right. That does sound crazy," John says.
"This place, holds too many good memories. This was where Peyton and I...well...," I begin, feeling a bit awkward.
"This was where we first kissed. This was our safe place, when we took time away from Horseshoe. This is where our story, began," Peyton finishes, winking at me.
"This place, is dear to us. I don't want the peace or tranquility of this place, bein' ruined by Dutch," I say.
"Besides, being in the open, gives us a chance to appear bigger in numbers, and meaner. It gives us the chance, to properly fight back," Peyton suggests, catching on to my meaning.

We all sit silently, for a minute. Finally, Sadie rises to her feet.
"I'll stand with you. Crazy as it is, I stand with you," she says.
Abigail rises next. "Me too," she says.
John hesitates, then, he too joins the others.
"I stand with my brother. I stand with y'all as my family," he says.
"Then, lets get packed up and find ourselves a spot. Be prepared, gang. We may be short in number. But, we make up for it, in strength and spirit," I say.

Setting about packing everything up, I take my boys into my arms, looking down at their wide eyed expressions.
"Some day, this'll all make sense, to you. Some day, y'all will fight as hard as us, for what you believe in. And when that day comes, I pray I'll be around, to see it," I say to them.
Lance coos and so does his brother, both smiling up at me.
"Daddy loves you. Daddy loves you both. I promise, I will protect you two, no matter what. I'll always be here, for you. Always," I say, glancing up as Peyton approaches me.
"We're ready to go," she says.
"Time to go now, little ones," I say to the boys, as I hand them off to Peyton and Sadie.