𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 ♦ 𝐑𝐃𝐑

🇨​🇭​🇦​🇵​🇹​🇪​🇷​ 10

By night, we make down to the lower part of Río Bravo, just past Plainview. We're awaiting the arrival of John upon or horses before I just can't help myself, I keep wanting to know more and more about Selina's father and who himself and her mother really were. Of course, I did know who her mother was. I met Rose multiple times, a bit snobby from time-to-time. All because of her new husband who was rich as rich could get, yet, they lived in a lovely home, nothing big and nothing fancy. Maybe for him to put out the idea that they were humble type, but with his attitude at times, never did seem quite humble.
"Ya know, I'm sorry I keep botherin' you on the subject, Sel. You got me curious as always. Who--- Well, I mean your dad was really an outlaw before you was born?"
"He was, yeah. Deadweight Hinton, Antonio Hinton. He was... Something else in his day for sure. Semi-long hair, beard, everything that no one wanted around. But, he met mother at a show, somehow, she fell for him too. She didn't become an outlaw or anything. He was rogue one too, no gang, no nothing. So they kept their relationship away from my mother's parents. Till... Well, she got pregnant with my brother. My father saw it as a time to change, so--- He asked her to marry him. She said yes, my grandparents disowned her. They were broke for some time. Just till before Ryan came, my father robbed a bank, much to my mother's dismay and all, he got out alive. Shot, but alive with over five thousand dollars. They bought a house, she had Ryan, and the rest well... Supposed to be a happy ending. I was born two years later, my father was working down in the oil fields soon to start his own, my mom, a teacher."
"So--- When did it all go south... The happy ending... Well... End?"
I knew I was probably crossing a line, but Selina didn't ever seem like the type who didn't share things when I asked.
"I was seventeen... My parents--- Just weren't getting along anymore. They fought, and fought, and fought. My father he--- Told he was fed up and she ruined his life. He'd still be this amazing outlaw if he hadn't gotten her pregnant and they rushed into everything. He loved her... Loved her green eyes just as much as you love mine. But he felt like her life was ruined because of him, and in return, she ruined his life as well by having Ryan. They may have had a decent life at that point, but he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. Ryan had already moved out, found some time to get a better education somewhere else. I had to be strong for my mother. We moved and that was it. She never looked back and neither did I. Haven't seen Ryan in some time either, maybe sometime soon. But now you understand why I'm apprehensive on seeing my father again--- I--- I don't want him to break my children's hearts if he chooses to leave again... Don't want my heartbroken again by him either. You, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. You, this baby, our children... Maybe it was a reminder that life isn't so bad. I know I didn't ever act like I was having a hard time back in the day, still don't either. It hardens you, makes you stronger, better I guess."

God, she could move mountains if she could, she could do so many things and I can't believe I never questioned her on any of this sooner. She really was stronger than I could've ever imagined. "You are something Selina Sanders... I love you. I'm sorry 'bout all this... You're an amazing girl. I feel lucky to have you." But in a sense, I understood why she was saying such things about him. It was plagued in her head how he stated that he ruined her mother's life, but in return, she ruined his. No wonder she was always quick to shut me up when I'd talk about everything being my fault with her. "I love you too, Asher. Now, have I satisfied your curiosity? Or are there other things you wanna ask me?"
"No, I think I'm good for the moment. Sure I might think of something but as of right now. No."

She gives me a smile before we both notice another male across the bridge, he's waving to us so we assume it has to be John. We're quick to get our horses going again before we finally meet up with the other male.
"Nice to see you again, Marston. How was it on the way in?"
"It was horrible. That Irish bastard had no clue what the hell he was doing. Almost got me across the river safe and sound and the next thing I know--- We're being shot at by some sort of Mexican malita. Raft goes downstream till we finally get to this area over down the river and... Well, here I am now. Glad I'm able to get you two across the old fashioned way and not on some raft."
"Well you also can't swim either, so that must've been a joyous time for you, John." I joke before he shakes his head with a small laugh. "Hey now, you can't really either, Sanders. Barely at least. Would've had to have your girl over here get you outta the water as well."
Selina lets out a laugh as I roll my eyes. "Well, welcome to Mexico you two. Seems.... Different."
"Every place to me is different, John. New Austin, Ambarino, New Hanover, Lemoyne and now... What is it called again Sel?"
"Nuevo Paraíso. Means New Paradise."
"Paradise indeed."

We all look off into the distance as the moon is shining down upon the desert land of Mexico. It was breathtaking all on its own. But still, so foreign to all of us. I hadn't seen anything like it besides Cholla Springs and such, but it wasn't well, like this. Just a vast land of nothing but flat land and desert. We could only hope that this country would treat us nice. Or I could forsee us all having a challenging time, even Selina, despite the fact that she could speak Spanish, she was going to be seen as an outsider from the land across the river. Our homeland and our views would probably not be the same either. But we knew we could hopefully make this all worthwhile.

"Think it's time we just all camp tonight, we'll head into Chuparosa tomorrow morning. You both look like you need some rest."
"I'll stand guard with you, Marston. Selina is the one who needs it." All for the sake of that child too. Still knew this was going to be a challenge with her, trying to keep her from wanting to kill everything within her line of sight that posed even the slightest danger to her and that unborn baby.

          Selina does thankfully go down for the night. I could tell how tired she was earlier, but, she was being one tough gal for being nearly three and a half months pregnant. She always was tough during these things. Even back before Arthur was born. Always found a way to impress us all with her strength and still very keen mind. My wife, the lady I adored, she was the definition of what a woman in power should be.
I'm looking out upon this great land, a sense of pride and bitterness being here right now. I didn't know what we were in for, but I knew it was going to be something rather insane. When wasn't it something insane. Everything back in the day with Dutch, that was just as crazy. I sigh deeply though, my mind drifting off elsewhere. Thinking about Selina and the situation with her father. How he was a 'weak' man in her eyes for not being able to resist the temptation that was going back to his former life before her mother, being her and her brother. Before everything. It was a wild thought. But would that also make me weak too? For the time when I went after Micah with John, Sadie, and Charles? Selina tried to stop me at first, now I guess I got why. She thought if I got the taste of it all again. I'd leave her behind too. Just as her father left her mother. But in reality, I knew I never would. No matter how much I wanted to. That fight we had? The one where she did accuse me of not changing and I yelled at her... I fucking yelled at her asking what the fuck did she truly know? Maybe--- Well, she knew everything all too well. She was gonna leave me... I remember... Because I was just gonna put her through all the same shit.