Ghosts of the Past [RDR2]

Chapter 3 - Cruel Goodbyes

Word count - 2587

Rosemary sat at the window of her bedroom in anticipation. This had been her routine for a month now, every couple of nights the handsome outlaw would ride up to her house, and she would climb down and join him. Never before had it been longer than a couple of days between his visits. Oftentimes he would show up with new bruises or cuts. Sometimes wounds she would happily care for. But more often than not he was just there, a helpless man in love with a woman from a different life.

Mr and Mrs Levenson were none the wiser to their daughters night time escapades. Even once she had convinced them to allow her a trip into town herself under the guise of doing some shopping. But once there had met Arthur Morgan during the day, where his features were yet even more striking than at night. She was no idiot, Rosemary knew she was completely and inescapably in love with the man. She would do anything, and be anyone for him.

Yet hours passed, and there was no sign of him. Perhaps this was the day she had dreaded since the first night they had met. He did warn her that staying in one place too long was never an option in his line of work. Yet somehow she had hoped that day wouldn't come quite so soon. Just as she was about to give up and turn in for the night, the silhouette of a man on horseback rode down the path outside her window and entered the orange light from her lantern that was spilling onto the path below. Arthur had returned.

Excitedly, Rosemary began fumbling to open her window ready to climb down and join him as normal, but paused in her tracks at the sight of her outlaw shaking his head. His meaning, although not voiced, was clear. Don't come down.

She stopped, simply looking at him, hand still clasped around the window's lock ready to join him in a heartbeat if he would just give a sign. But he stood there, watching her with those shocking blue eyes visible even though the dim light of the moon, stars and orange glowing lantern. It was a long moment before another horse and rider came out of the bushes. This was a young boy, no older than six-teen, who rode up and took a hold of Arthur's arm in a loving, brotherly way. At this contact, Arthur seemed to come to himself and did one action that served to break Rosemary's heart for years to come. He took off his hat, looked her in the eye, and tipped his head down.

It was a brief moment before he turned the horse she had given him around and walked it back up the path away from her home. The young boy looked up to her window, a face of stricken sadness blemishing his young features. He had long brown, unkempt hair and two fresh, bleeding cuts down his cheek. He nodded to her as well almost apologetically before following Arthur back up the tracks. There was nothing she could do but watch as the two figures shrink into the distance. This was the last time Rose would ever see Arthur, and she knew it. The image of her outlaw, head dipped sorrow, was sure to pain her every day from that moment.

On the third day after Arthur's solum, unspoken goodbye, Mr and Mrs Levenson began to worry for their daughter. Who had not roused from her bed for longer than it took to eat. By the fifth day, Mr Levenson had reached his breaking point "Okay, Rose, I don't know what has been going on with you but I've had enough. You get down to those Stables today. No, you get down to those stables right now. I'll not hear no arguments. Go tend the horses. And don't let one escape this time!" His voice was a commanding fatherly tone. Arguing with him was not an option.

So picking up the pieces Arthur had left shattered behind, Rosemary walked herself down to the stables. Five horses greeted her, happily naying at their favourite owner's return. The Foul was jumping up and down gleefully. "Hello, Sammy." She sighed, softly stroking it's head lovingly. "Ain't you a sight for sore eyes. You're getting bigger every day." The foul was her favourite, but diverting her attention Rosemary began brushing down the Stallions with tender care.