"Ya think ya see ya self loving an old, rough outlaw like myself?"
"No....I see myself loving a broken man who just needs a little bit of love."
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Gwendolyn Washington was born into a wealthy Australian family, all she knew was being higher cl...
"don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up" ~ robert frost
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After Gwendolyn and Arthur's kiss they shared in the cabin, she wasn't able to get the older man out of her head. She woke up thinking of him, she dreamt of him after she had fallen asleep. She wasn't sure why she was feeling this way, she hardly knew him at all yet they shared a kiss. Why?
And deep deep down....she knew she enjoyed it a lot more than she should've. What would mother and father think? Christopher had hired the man and his two colleagues to rob Leviticus Cornwall. Who were those men really? She had a feeling they weren't who they were saying they were.
All she knew was Arthur Callahan was a mysterious man....and she was growing sweet on him.
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Gwendolyn
I sat on my bed looking down at the slip of paper that sat in my gloved hands. The perfect handwriting, the signature at the bottom of the paper. It was all too familiar and I didn't know what to think.
Dear Gwendolyn, I understand I'm probably the last person you would like to hear from. I never meant for us to leave on a bad situation...I truly did think of you as a little sister, and Jacob as a brother. Jamie also had taken a liking to the two of you we just couldn't stay. Not after the man I loved couldn't leave his lifestyle behind to be with me...I just couldn't bare to see him around and him choosing that lifestyle over myself. I'm staying outside of Valentine right now...a place called Chadwick Farms. I'd love to see you and Jacob, Gwendolyn...
With Love, Mary Linton
I crumple the letter up in my hands feeling the anger building up. Who the hell does she think she is?! I stand to my feet with a huff tossing the crumpled paper onto my bed. I pick up the bottom of my dress from the ground as I leave my bedroom and head towards Jacob's. "Jacob?"I call out softly as I bring my hand up to knock on the door. The night he put me in the cabin and Arthur showed up I haven't really spoken to him. Thank goodness he doesn't know about what happened between Arthur and I. I never told him it was Arthur, he just simply let it go I suppose.
"Yeah?"Jacobs voice calls out from under the door and I let out a sigh resting my forehead against the cool feel of the wooden door. "Mary sent me a letter."I answer in a soft tone unsure of what his reaction would be. I hear a couple thumps and the sound of something closing before his door opens causing me to stumble forward into him. "She what?!"he snaps in irritation as anger pools in his dark eyes. I stand up straight swiping my hand down the front of my dress. "She's staying outside of Valentine."I say softly as my eyes flicker over his face.
As soon as I told Jacob about Mary's letter he insisted we head over to Valentine. Telling mother and father we had riding lessons with Finn, a small fib but they would never check to see if we were there. "I cannot believe her."Jacob mutters under his breath as we ride towards the quiet town. My grip around Jacob's abdomen tightens and I press my forehead against his back just listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Jacob secretly always adored Mary Linton...though he would never admit it. She was older than him, but her father was a mean drunk. He never liked Jacob and I.
Chadwick Farms the sign read as we ride up to the place Mary said she was staying. My heart thuds heavily against my chest as Jacob helps me down off of the horse we borrowed from Finn. A black Arabian is hitched on the hitching post and I glance at it curiously as we walk up towards the door. "—Arthur."a familiar voice calls out in a frantic as two people round the corner. I stare in shock as Arthur comes around the corner with Mary Linton. The pair notices us causing to Mary gasp in shock. "Gwen! Jacob!"she exclaims but my eyes lock onto Arthur's and I notice his facial expression drop."Mary."Jacob breathes star struck at the older lady feeling his heart thud heavily against his chest. She still looked the same.
Mary and Jacob embrace each other in a hug and I keep eye contact with Arthur. Why was he here? I feel Mary's arms wrap me up in a hug and I hesitantly return the warm embrace. "Gwen this is the man I wrote you about in my letter. Arthur Morgan."she explains as we pull away from the hug and my heart drops as she looks back at Arthur. "Yeah...we've met."I answer in a quiet voice as my eyes lock back onto Arthur's. So he's not Arthur Callahan.
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Mary and Jacob get lost in their own conversation so Arthur and I step away to talk. "Gwen.."Arthur says after a few moments of silence. I put my hand up signaling for him to not say anything"we—"I open my mouth to speak what's on my mind and swallow down the lump that forms in my throat"so your name is Arthur Morgan? You lied...and—and we kissed Arthur then you left. You haven't spoken to me since, and now—I find out you're involved with the woman my brother is sweet on?!" I feel my heart drop when I realize what Mary said in her letter. Arthur was the man who wouldn't leave his lifestyle behind for her.
"Mary mentioned your lifestyle."I say softly causing him to look at me with a curious look in his eyes which just urges me to continue. "Tell me."I plead as I take a step towards him, I needed to know what he done and why. Why he couldn't leave it behind. He takes a step back running his hand over his face with an irritated sigh. "Gwen—I ain't a good man 'lright? Just forget ya ever met me and just drop it."Arthur snaps in anger causing me to jump back at his sudden change of tone. His face sinks as soon as the words leave his mouth and he reaches out towards me.
"Gwen—." I shake my head as I feel the tears well up in my eyes causing me to look away blinking rapidly so they don't fall. I clear my throat and with a handful of my dress I swiftly move past Arthur and down the steps towards the horse Jacob and I rode into Valentine on. I feel my heart ache at the sound of Arthur's footsteps departing. He kissed me...he made me feel like this. Why is he acting so cold now?
