The wild, wild West (Arthur Morgan x f!reader)

CHAPTER 25 - Down the river

Allbrights body hit the water with a loud splash.

„Shit!", I cursed and turned to Arthur.

Arthur was already on his horse and yelled: „Take his horse!"

The grey was nervous, she pranced around and it took me forever to get a foot in the stirrup. I managed to get on and she took off immediately. She was fast, we caught up with Arthur quickly. The river roared and the words that Arthur yelled drowned in the noise. The landscape flew by in a blur. Trees, rocks and boulders blended into grey and green and brown patches. My eyes were fixed on the panicking man with the uncontrollably paddling limbs who yelled for help and swallowed buckets worth of water.

While I controlled the reigns with one hand, I reached for my lasso with the other. Allbright yelled something that sounded vaguely like „Get me out." I ignored him and pushed his mare to go faster. Arthur was to slow, he blocked the path. We reached a shallow part of the river that gave me the perfect opportunity to throw my lasso. The rope landed around the mans neck and slipped over one arm, so I didn't strangle him when I pulled him out. I moved the mare backwards, so the rope closed tightly around his upper body and she finally dragged him out.

In one smooth motion, I jumped off and kneeled over him to tie him up. He spat out some water, but had enough air in his lungs to reason. „I have nothing you could take from me. Don't kill me! I have a lot of knowledge, I could..."

I laughed roughly. „We aren't robbin'ya, buddy. The law knows what you been doin' with all the sick fellers and now we're payin' the sheriff a visit." I trew him on the back of his own horse and mounted.

The way back was very relaxing. Allbright accused me of being a „foul woman!" and Arthur of being „a dirty liar!", but a slap shut him up quickly. We picked up Smith and headed back to Valentine.

„How about you take care of the bounty and I have a look at this horse.", Arthur suggested, only a few minutes away from the small town.

„Sure. She seems decent enough. Maybe even worth something if he kept the papers."

I loaded Allbright on Smith and handed the mares reigns to Arthur, then we parted ways.

The younger sheriff that had been there at my last visit wasn't here anymore. Instead, there was the older one and a woman. I ignored their shocked expressions and greeted them friendly. „Mornin' officer, mornin' Miss. I got Allbright."

„Uhm... sure. Miss Calthorpe was just leaving.", he excused and straightened his hat.

„So was I. Tell me were you want him and you're rid of me."

„Put him in the cell in the back. I'll put your money on the table.", he explained and glanced back at the woman.

His awkwardness amused me. I nodded and carried the man over to the cells. The old iron door made horrible screeching noises when I opened it. Allbright started arguing again when I dropped him on the stone floor, but I ignored his words. I didn't need to hear the pleas or insults of the people that were fated to die because I had brought them in. I didn't need another thing to keep me up at night. I grabbed the small stack of dollar notes from the table, counted it, nodded towards the two people and left the smelly office.

Arthur was nowhere to be seen, he was probably still in the stable. Now that I had 50$ to spend, it was tempting to enter a few of the shops that had been off limits until now. But instead of spending the money in the gunsmiths store, I followed Arthur into the stable.

Inside, the stablehand was busy fitting Arthurs old saddle to the new mare. Now that I could finally examine her, she looked like good riding horse for clear terrain. Big, slightly feathered feet and lean, not to heavy. She was well taken care of, her hooves were neatly trimmed and her fur looked smooth and shiny, with no ribs or other bones poking out.

I stepped next to Arthur quietly and asked: „That's a real good horse. Are you gonna keep her?"

He hummed. „I'd have to be a fool to pass on this."

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