The trapper and a gang.

CH9: Confession

The bottle of whiskey was quickly finished, the night fell but it is not cold this time. Arthur and Sarah are laughing together telling each other funny stories and singing songs. Then everything becomes calm, and Sarah begins to speak:

- You know, Arthur. Before, I had the opportunity to have a stable and correct life.

- What do you mean?

- I worked on a ranch with my father, my mother died when I was 3, she was cardiac. My father had found her lying in the garden, inanimate.

- I'm sorry...

- My father taught me to ride when I was 8 years old. At 11, he thought I was old enough to work on the ranch with him. He taught me how to use a rifle when I was 12 years old and to use a lasso.

- Your father is probably a good teacher. Arthur replied.

- Yeah, he was ...

- He was? What happens?

- One day, when I was 15, he announced that he was going to study to become a lawyer.

- Really? Arthur answered with a slight laugh.

- I too was surprised by his decision, but I supported him. He gave me this silver watch, it belonged to my mother.
Sarah takes the watch out and hands it to Arthur.

- It does not work anymore, but it has a great sentimental value for me.

Arthur opened the watch and reads the inscription inside:
- More than my own life...

- That's how my parents loved me, more than their own lives. Replied Sarah.

- What happened next? Arthur asks, giving the watch back to Sarah.

- My dad was supposed to write to me every month. But 3 months later, no more letters arrived. My bosses, Mr. and Mrs. Larson, told me that he might be studying a lot, I accepted that fact, and I continued working on their ranch. But 2 months have passed, and still no news. And one day, a deputy came to see me and he tells me that my father is dead. Someone beat him to death, all for 10$.

- Who was this man? Arthur asked.

- I dunno. They were maybe several ... Anyway, 1 years later, I started hanging out with thieves, outlaws ... I killed, stole, threatened ... And I loved it. And I still worked for Mr. and Mrs. Larson.

- That's how you met Colm?

- Yes, I drank in a saloon, I had a small reputation and rare are the people who knew it was me, the most prolific thief in the region. But Colm knew it was me, and he liked me... And he managed to get me. In his gang as well as in his bed.

- How old were you at that moment?

- 20 years old ... And I was naive, stupid to believe that he loved me ... I was just ... his luxury whore ...

A tear falls on Sarah's cheek, Arthur approaches his hand and wipes it. She turns her head to him and nods to thank him.

- Why did you run away?

- One night, I was injured during a robbery of a store. We were not far from Mr. and Mrs. Larson's ranch, so I told Colm and his guys that we could hide there while I'm healing. I stayed in bed for a week, Mr. Larson was not at the ranch and Mrs. Larson knew who I was hanging out with, she told me to leave, that it was not a life for me ... I said I liked the danger. And there, she tells me that there are only fools who do not change, and that I'm not a fool... Colm killed Mrs. Larson, and with his guys, he looted the ranch, burned the house and waited for Mr. Larson's return to kill him.

- You did not try to stop him?

- I tried, he locked me in a cabin behind the house, he told me that I belonged to him, that I was a whore for him ... he killed Mr. Larson and he left. He knew I would come back to him, but not the way he thought about it. I stole 300$ from him, took everything I could, wrote a letter to the sheriff telling him the location of Colm's camp, and left. I was 25 years old.

- How old are you now?

- 26 years. For 1 year, I did not stop fleeing, not because I was afraid, but because I was ashamed. Ashamed to have been with a dog like Colm...

- So you changed. Arthur answered.

- What?

- You realized, that Colm was bad for you, and you left. Mrs. Larson was right, you're not a fool and you changed.

- That's a compliment, Arthur?

- We could say that...

- And you?

- What?

- I just told you all my life, what about you?

Arthur was silent, then he spoke:

- I had a son... he passed away.  I had a girl who loved me, I trew that away. My momma died when I was a kid... and my daddy... well, I watched him die... and it weren't soon enough.

- That girl who loved you, was Mary?

- Yeah ...

- Why ... it did not work?

- For many reasons, and I only made the wrong choices.

- My father said that there are never good or bad choices, there are only choices.

- Your father knew how to speak. Arthur answered with a smile.

- I think he would like you ... and I think you're not bad, Arthur.

- What makes you believe that?

- I do not believe, I see it.

Sarah gets closer to him and looks him straight in the eyes.

- In your eyes, Arthur ... There's something good ...the eyes never lie ...

- Do not put any hope in me, Sarah. You will be disappointed.

- I did not say that I put hope in you, Arthur. I just said that I see good in you.

- And what else do you see?
Sarah gets a little closer to him and takes off his hat.

- I see ... empathy ... loyalty ... whiskey ...

Sarah is struggling to balance on her lap, so she puts her hands on Arthur's shoulder to avoid falling.

- What about you, Arthur? what do you see?

- I see a woman completely drunk, struggling to stay awake ...

- Haha ... that's true, but you too are drunk ...

They looked at each other for a moment, as if contemplating each other. At that moment everything had slowed down, the fire, the slight breeze ... their breaths.

...........................................

Their heads were only inches from each other. Then without really thinking, Arthur kisses Sarah. She runs a hand through Arthur's hair, intensifying their kiss. Arthur slips a hand under Sarah's jacket, which releases a light moan. She tries to take off Arthur's jacket, but she's so drunk that she can not. In a way, they know what they are doing, Sarah leans back and opens her eyes. The stars are so beautiful, Arthur takes the opportunity to kiss her neck and tries to open Sarah's shirt.... They kiss each other again with a passion and a rage that they have never felt before ...

It's warm ... the fire, the stars, the kiss ...

Then nothing.

They fell asleep completely drunk, half undress, Arthur's hand still in Sarah's shirt, and Sarah with her hand in Arthur's hair.

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Finally, they kiss ! And it was hot!

Maybe next time it will be hotter!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

If you liked this chapter, do not hesitate to leave a comment and I wish you a good day or a good night !!