The Last Love Of Arthur Morgan

Open Wounds

It's been three days since we left camp and it hasn't gotten any better. We had to stop for the night in a cave, until the wind storm passes. Thomas told us some stories about Colm - you'd think the dumbass would be afraid of him, but I think he looks up to him. Kinda scary if you ask me. Colm ain't nobody to be looking up to....come to think of it, none of us are.

But I digress..

The kid talks an awful lot about Lorna. He must think I like hearing about their countless frolics in the ocean, or the number of times they've fucked and where. I know he's doing it just to get under my skin and it is, but I ain't letting him get the satisfaction of knowing it bothers me.

Dutch still wants to go through with this plan, but I don't think it's such a good idea. My guess would be to pack up camp and leave, but Dutch won't listen to reason. You'd think he'd learn after Blackwater.

Arthur closed his journal and stuffed it back into his satchel. He walked back over to the warmth of the fire and knelt beside it, holding his gloved hands out to thaw. He managed to find an old handkerchief in the bottom of his satchel, covered under the things he'd collected over a few months. He was grateful for the warmth around his face, as another storm blew through - though his face was already wind burnt.

"So how far until we're there?"

"Another day out." Thomas replied tiredly."...It's not worth it though, they ain't gonna listen to any of your demands. It's best to just take me and let them see me alive."

For once the boy made sense. Going to them would only make trouble that they didn't need. He figured the best way to do things was to let them happen within time, whereas Dutch just wanted things done immediately - without really thinking of the consequences to follow.

"We have to stick to the plan. They'll never know you're alive-"

"The O'Driscoll's are everywhere, Dutch, they'll see us eventually. Seein' him with us will give us the leverage we need." Arthur tried.

Dutch shook his head."No, we go through with the plan! We need to send them a message, that the Van Der Linde gang is not to be messed with!" His rising voice echoed throughout the cave.

Arthur shushed him."Don't want snow shuttin' us in, be quiet."

"Hitting them right now with only two men will be rough. They've got at least five times that." Thomas explained."Not only that, but, a Gatling gun that they ain't afraid to use."

Arthur raised his brows."Dutch, we ain't got the man power to take them - not yet. Let's turn back now and we'll get 'em when we have enough men, ammo...and safer place to hold up."

Dutch sighed and looked down at the cold rocky terrain beneath them. He waved his hand in defeat and sat back on his heels, holding his hands out to the fire to thaw.

"Alright we'll circle back, tell the others the storm prevented us from going any further. Another plan will be made at a later time."

Arthur couldn't help the relief he felt hearing those words. Dutch finally agreeing to not go ahead with the plan, was probably the smartest thing he could've ever done! Later on, they'd realize just how close they came to complete annihilation.

The next morning, the snow was still coming down hard and the wind was making no plans of dying down. They didn't have enough food to stay another day in the cave, so they packed up what little they had and left for camp. They still didn't trust Thomas, so Arthur tied him tight to the saddle. The boy didn't protest.

It was a complete white out as they trudged down the mountain, and every once in a while Dutch or Arthur would stop and jump down, just to make sure they weren't too close to the edge. Thankfully once high noon rolled around, the winds died down giving them some visibility. They were now able to make more ground, though another storm was sure to follow, as they always did up in these parts. So they really had to hurry.