𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 ♦ 𝐑𝐃𝐑

🇨​🇭​🇦​🇵​🇹​🇪​🇷​ 49

Nathan and I chose to have our own walk down memory lane, but this time, we chose to go and see Arthur, just as we did back in the day. I hadn't been up to see my old friend in such a long time. We knew it was always best to pay tribute and we knew that we'd go see John at some point in Beecher's Hope as well. But for now, it was more focused on Arthur. We started riding early in the morning. But I still hadn't gotten too much proper time to catch up with my best friend. "So Nathan, what happened with Lauren and your kids?" I asked before he looked over at me while we're riding a trot right now. A decent pace for us and all for we weren't in any hurry at the given moment. "Well, I haven't seen them in a while. Ain't no hard feelings but--- I do miss them sometimes. But, I'd like to think that things happen for a reason. That's just the way it is." Nate had grown up a hell of a lot since we was kids. He had accepted things he couldn't change, saw things different. He wasn't the type anymore who chased after people who wouldn't even think of giving him the time of day anymore and maybe that was what the gang did to him. Made him into a heartless and angry bastard at times, but I knew when it came to those who mattered, he wouldn't even hesitate anymore with making sure that they knew that they made him the happiest man. It was just himself and my family nowadays and I knew Selina and I wouldn't have it any other way. She adored Nathan just as much as I did, he saw her like his sister, knowing how much I loved her. She even looked to him like a brother and did tend to call him her 'brother-in-law' when she saw fit. I didn't have any siblings, so I suppose it did make sense that he would be one to me.
"I understand, partner. I am glad you're doin' better though. Least you ain't sittin' there and crying over her no more."
"Just as Arthur used to say to us, John, you gotta be loyal to what matters. You, Selina, my nephews and niece? You all matter. Same with Sadie, Abigail, and John--- Rest his soul, that foolish man."
"He was somethin' else usually. But he got the job done for Selina and I most of the time when we was gone. He kept tellin' me he wasn't doin' it for him, he was doin' it for his family, for us, knowin' that Selina couldn't be put in those situations where she could get shot... Then she did and I knew it was all me in that moment."
"Selina? Shot? You serious?"
"She did, yeah. Dutch had me all flustered up and boom... One of his men got her. Went down like the rain pouring over the valley, just all at once. I bashed that guys head in. Dutch got away. I don't think I'll ever forget the look in her eyes... She was strong--- But she was so scared. Told me later... She was afraid of death. What comes after for us. God, Nate, she looked at me like I was gonna be the last thing she ever saw. For a moment--- I believed I would be too. Till the agents transferred her down the block and to the doctor's."
"She ain't ever told me she was shot. I don't think I ever saw it happenin' to her."
"Yeah--- She doesn't like talkin' 'bout it no more. Makes her feel like she cheated death. Always says she should've died then too. But--- Nathan, you should've heard her cries, her pleas, wanting the pain to stop when they were removin' the bullet."
"She actually wasn't that strong like she is when it comes to havin' your babies?"
"At that point, I knew she was done with it all. She knew she couldn't keep goin' 'bout it no more, Nathan. She asked me to run. But I couldn't, I guess that was my downfall in the end."

I still hated thinking on it too, but Selina? She couldn't anymore. It was too dark for her to speak on. She said she felt as though because she lived, she felt that was why I was so close to death. "Asher--- Look at all this though. You lived and you got shot, what? Four damn times? You still here. Selina got shot and she's still here too. What I'm sayin', Asher, is you two have had it rough. Had bad times, had good times, but in my mind. The love you two share has been everything to watch. Shit, even I remember the day you met her and you didn't even wanna come back to camp because you was so utterly infatuated with her. Then when you brought her back and I knew you adored her. Now, look at you. Four kids, married, nice house. It's amazing."

God I swore this man could move people to tears if he could speak as freely as he did. That was why he was my best friend, my brother. Anything he said to me always did feel like it made sense. Always. I smile widely as I shake my head ever so slight but I give him a thumbs up with a chuckle as well. "You're always so good to us, Nate. Never been a doubt in my mind that you weren't loyal to us either. You're a good man. One of the best." If I could, I would pat him on the shoulder. But I just couldn't do that on a horse. But we do manage to shake hands.

      We got up to where Arthur was and this time, there wasn't any words shared. I felt like seeing him recently was enough for me. We just sat there as the sun was setting, admiring the view. The flowers around his grave weren't in bloom right now, it nearly being February, but no matter what, there would never be a time a time we didn't read that 'blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness' and feel nothing but pure pride.
We began heading back home, for me knew it wasn't as long a ride as it used to be back in the day, looking over to Nathan as we rode as hard as we did, I couldn't help but envision him younger, riding his old Arabian, Spookey and me with Luka. God, did we miss those two. Life was unexpected, old age got to them and I knew they were running together up in the sky. We return him to be greeted by everyone and I can't help but smile. Tonight, like any other, was beautiful as I come to lay next to my wife and she cuddles up to me. Placing a kiss to her forehead while her hair is up in that tight bun, which would be loose by morning. God I loved her. I knew that no matter what, I always would.