𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 ♦ 𝐑𝐃𝐑

🇨​🇭​🇦​🇵​🇹​🇪​🇷​ 22

Antonio Hinton P.O.V

The ride back to Rose's house was silent. Selina was clinging to me just as she would when she was a little girl. It was hard to see my daughter in so much pain. I had never thought I'd see a day where she was considered a "former outlaw". What an odd thing to hear. I hadn't seen her since she was about twenty and that military man asked me if he could marry her. I didn't see him as the right fit for her. Too disciplined for her. He looked like he was gonna leave her high and dry and probably just ditch her when she got pregnant and then had an affair. Seemed like the type. Too proud of who he was and what he did. Asher, well, I could tell he loved my little girl. Treated her right, made sure that smile never left her face. God, I knew she wouldn't of had three, almost four children if he didn't love her and she didn't love him. I felt bad too, for him--- My ex-wife wasn't the nicest to him about this entire situation and I was sure he was already feeling like his heart was breaking into a million pieces just seeing the state of his wife. Rose was never one to be light, even when we was together and still getting to know one another. I was eighteen when I met the love of my life in that girl. She was everything to me, but she told you how it was and not any other way. When our son came along at nineteen, god, she was just the most perfect mother to Ryan. She loved him with everything in her. Then, when Selina came, she was even more infatuated. A miniature her for sure, but Selina never seemed to be too into telling people how it was. Always so soft spoken, pure. I wish I would've understood why she despised me so much. Guess I should know though. I left her and her mother, and in return, they both turned their backs on me.

   We arrive at the house and I get my daughter off the back of my horse but this time, I carry her instead. She just seemed to be going down on the pain medication now and I was sure that was what was making her a hell of a lot calmer now. I put her within the bed she shared with Asher the night before and made sure she was tucked in and thankfully, she fell asleep right then and there. I moved some hair out of her face before I sighed deeply. She's in her mid-thirties now and I still felt like she was my four year old little girl who knew how to bring a smile to the face of her mother and I. Those nights when she just couldn't sleep and either her mother or I would lay with her on the couch or even in our own room till she fell asleep and we put her back within her own. To be honest, I regretted a lot of what I had done in the past. Just wish I could make them both see how much I have changed.
I step out of the room and head into the living room where I spot Rose sitting on the couch, looking rather disappointed and off somewhere. "Rose..." I speak as I'm clearing my throat. Her emerald eyes look up at me before she shakes her head and trails off again. I come to sit on the couch just beside her.
"You can't sit there and ignore me, woman. You know you have something to say." Once more, she shifts her eyes to me as she lets out a sigh. "I do have something to say, but I know you do too. You always do, Antonio. Really. So you go first and we can build off one another's conversation." This girl was so different from the one I married long ago. She came from wealth, as I, well, I came from not much. My parents were just simple farmers, when I told them about myself wanting to be an outlaw--- My dad wanted to beat me for it, my mom cried, but I left because I knew I could make something of myself. I didn't want to be just a 'simple and friendly' farmer. When I met Rose, she was all dressed in this fancy dress. Hanging around the general store in Blackwater, our eyes met and it was always a passionate love ever since. Now, I was well aware she was with this lawyer, who, well, obviously wasn't all there for her in a much different way than I was. "I think you were too harsh on Selina and Asher... You realize they're just like us right? He's an outlaw, she's this cute little country girl who he fell in love with. Why did you feel the need to tell him that she could've been off with some decent fellow when in all reality, you know he tried to give her a decent life when all was said and done. Why isn't that enough for you?" I ask as I just stare closely her facial features. She blinks a few times, licking her lips before she speaks up. "As I said to him, I never did hate him, I don't hate him. Here's the thing, Antonio, you wouldn't understand. Sure, their love is like ours. It's crazy, it's different, but--- What if one day he realizes that this isn't what he wants anymore? Being a daddy to those kids, who--- God Antonio, as much as I despise you for all you ever did, leaving us as you did... You will find our daughter's children to be the most adorable, respectful... Just amazing young men and woman who I am sure will accomplish so much as they grow. But that isn't the point, what if he walks away from her too? What then? I ain't gettin' any younger, I can't help her much. She's got a fourth baby comin' too, as if I can help that too! What I was saying is... To me... He---"
"He isn't good enough for our daughter."
"Now, I never said that."
"It is what you're sayin', it is! You're sittin' here stating that he'll be like me! Don't you dare put thoughts like that into the poor girl's head. She loves him and honestly, Rose, I ain't ever see him walkin' away from her. He loves her... He truly loves her. I can see it in his eyes, I saw it the moment they found me down near Hennigan's Stead after fuckin' Daniel, you 'member him, Buck's little brother--- He attacked down there 'cause he caught wind of Asher bein' down there. You know Asher killed Buck, well, he killed Daniel too--- But, when I met him, the way her came to her, put his arm around her as he did, the way they look at one another as if all the time stops in the world and everything is just about them. He loves her."
"I don't doubt he loves her Antonio! What do you not see? I know he loves her! But you loved me too and look what you did! You left me when things got tough and suddenly you wanted to go and be a big bad outlaw again! I wanted better for our daughter... That's all I'm sayin'."
"Buck was never better and you know, Rose. He was a smart mouthed, big headed military man who thought he saw love within her when in reality he would've ran off with another girl just as your big, lawyer man, did because their egos are what control them! I never stopped lovin' you even when we got divorced! Never in a million years do I see a time where I will never not love you!" I stand from my spot and she stands from hers as well before she slaps me across my face. "I've hated you since the day I watched you ride away on your horse with little to nothin' said, no point given to our daughter, no letter to your son, nothing. You failed as a husband, you failed as a father... As I said, you're welcome to stay here till you can figure out a new living situation. But in my mind, Antonio, Buck was better for Selina as I saw Russell bein' better for me too... But I guess in all ways, more than anything, those men are as respectable as they are loyal... Neither of those are true except for men like you, the ones who come with less. I'm gonna go wash some dishes. This conversation is over."

I watch as she leaves me within the living room. She was hurting still and it hurt me to know I caused this. I never did once apologize to Selina. Sure, guess I never knew when I was either. I just wanted the best for my daughter too and I knew and I felt like Asher was the right one for her. I only hoped he was that is, but I saw it that moment he looked at my daughter and she looked at him and smiled like she did. He made her happy. Never intended for her to be shot today, he looked heartbroken. Maybe that was what I was too, heartbroken.