The Last Love Of Arthur Morgan

Home Sweet...Bayou?

The train going back to Saint Denis was a lot longer than the one going out. There were a lot of people on board this time, so there were a lot of stops. However frustrating it was, Arthur was just glad to be with his family again.

Mary Harper was saddened to see Lorna leave, but delighted to hear about the possibility of Rose coming to stay with her.

In exchange, Lorna promised Mary she'd give Thomas a letter, with the hope that he'd write back to her. She knew Thomas well enough to know he was too ashamed to write. But then again, he might surprise her.

It was a bittersweet moment as they left California, knowing that she might never see the coast again. And if she was being quite honest, she was glad. It was filled with turbulent memories of her past that she hoped to lock away. It was a painful lesson to be learned, but a lesson indeed. No matter how homesick you feel, you just can't go home again.

She looked at her small family and smiled, knowing that this was all she needed. All those forced banquets and brunches - that was fluff compared to the rawness she felt when next to her husband and daughter.

No one needed to live a lavish lifestyle such as her former self - those folks hardly ever appreciated life for what it was worth and they certainly didnt respect those who did.

Even though the gang was hardly the life she wanted, it would be something that needed to be worked out in time. Perhaps things would change and get better, perhaps they would get tired of the life. Perhaps.

Lorna knew better, however. She knew things would never change. It made money - but at what cost?

"You're a million miles away." Arthur nudged her."You alright?"

She nodded, stifling a yawn."Yeah, I guess I got caught up in my own thinking."

He reached over and rested a reassuring hand on top of hers. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, earning her a grunt.

She reached down and ran a hand over Lily's head, marveling in her beauty. Six months old and already beautiful like a painted portrait.

"You didn't wanna leave, did ya?"

Lorna frowned."That wasn't my family back there. That life is a phony way of living and I can't do that anymore." She looked down at her hands in her lap."...Did I want to leave? No, but if I stayed it would've conjured up old memories and I'm not ready to face that yet."

He nodded."Understood."

That was another thing about him, he understood even when he didn't or shouldn't have to. He was loyal to whomever he felt connected to - she didn't know whether to be honored or terrified. She guessed honored that he was most loyal to her, but she still feared that his loyalty laid with Dutch. Of course it would be, the man saved his life as a child. But he wasn't that same man anymore.

They all watched the steady decline of Dutch Van Der Linde, and it'd only gotten worse over the year and a half that Lorna has known him. She could only imagine the pain Arthur must be feeling right about now. She still didn't trust Dutch, but knew it would be good for Arthur to go back and see him again.

She'd be foolish to believe that there'd be any love between them again, but at least both men could come to some understanding.

If anything, they'd forget about this silly feud and continue what they set out to do, whatever that was, or go their separate ways. She liked the latter, but knew Arthur wouldn't. He was born and bred to be an outlaw and it would take the jaws of life to pry him away from it.

...

When they finally arrived back in Saint Denis, Arthur got off first to retrieve the horses. Lorna managed to take Pepper on their way back to the Harper's Ranch. No one saw her take the horse and even if they had, she didn't care. She raised Pepper and couldn't leave her again. Once was bad enough, but twice...it was like leaving her child behind.