The Morgan Clan || A Red Dead Story

Chapter 5; Up Through the Valley

"So, how many pictures are you thinkin' of takin' of these horses," Arthur asked as he unhitched Ghost and climbed up to her saddle. His eyes trained on Albert's precariously secured camera on the back of Shadow's Cast.

"I don't know. As many it takes, I suppose," Albert replied once he mounted his own horse. The two men spurred their horses on at the same time and headed out of town at a trot.

"Of course." Arthur chuckled and shook his head. "Do ya think you'll be needin' my help with the horses?"

"If need be, but if not then you're free to do whatever you like. Hopefully, you'll use that time to draw the picture you promised me this morning." Albert gave his partner a sly smile and Arthur scoffed.

"I didn't promise nothin'. That was you assumin' I did."

"But you did suggested it in the first place!"

"Yeah, yeah," Arthur sighed and paused to think for a moment, "Fine. Fine, I'll draw the picture." Albert shook his fists slightly in excitement and hummed happily.

"Thank you, Arthur. I'll be sure to love and cherish it." He leaned over the gap between their horses. Arthur knew what was coming and leaned down to meet Albert's lips for a moment.

"Oh this is so exciting! I can't wait to get those pictures!" Albert grinned at him and spurred Shadow's Cast forward. Ghost whinnied and followed her friend's fast pace through the woods.

~

By lunchtime the two came to what both assumed to be the spot. Albert dismounted and unhitched his camera, while Arthur sat on his horse for a few more moments so he could give her a routine praise. Then he hopped off and grabbed his shotgun.

"This place is absolutely gorgeous isn't it, Arthur? Right in between Strawberry and Rock Ridge. I'm surprised we haven't come across it before," Albert mused as he put together his camera. It was obsolete now and each repair part was becoming harder to come by, so he had everything wrapped up in canvas.

"I've been here before. Long time ago, now, though," Arthur replied. He stood next to Albert, watching the landscape.

"Really? How come you never told me about it?"

"Never crossed my mind, I guess. If I'd thought about it I would've said somethin'. Sure is beautiful up here, though. The flowers especially." The cowboy pointed toward the span of purple flowers growing across the valley. Albert nodded in agreement.

"This is the perfect setting for pictures. Perfect light too, my it's wonderful." The photographer spread his arms out at that last word, causing Arthur to chuckle.

"Glad you're so excited," he said, "but I don't see any horses. You want me to scrounge some up for ya?" He watched his partner think for a moment, eyes glancing from him to the valley and back to him.

"If you could? I want to get at least one picture while there aren't too many shadows."

"Sure." Arthur leaned forward and pecked his partner on the cheek, then went to mount his horse, "I dunno how long I'll be gone, depends on how far away the horses are."

"How about if you're not back in thirty minutes, I'll come looking for you," Albert said with a smile. Arthur gave him a scoff and chuckled as he turned his horse about.

"Alright! See you in thirty," he called back before spurring Ghost out into the meadow. The wind whipped Arthur's hair back and he took a deep breath, filling his lungs with country air. Ghost whinnied happily as she ran, and Arthur, knowing what she wanted, let go of the reins. He trusted her to keep him safe.

Ghost, immediately feeling the difference, stretched out her neck and whinnied again. The wind tore through her mane and fur. Both her and her rider felt completely free.

"Alright girl, that's enough," called Arthur over the wind. He grasped the reins again and slowed her down to a trot. Then he bent down to pat her on the neck. "That was fun, wasn't it?" Ghost huffed in response and he chuckled.

"Alright, girl. You gotta help me look for these horses for Albert. If you spot 'em, tell me. Got it?" She bobbed her head up and down and Arthur chuckled again. "Let's go!" And with that they took off again.

Arthur kept his eyes peeled out for any movement in the trees as he and Ghost whisked through the meadow. Far in the distance he could see the remains of a lone tree, one that had been standing not three years ago. Behind it, among the foothills of the land, he could make out Rock Ridge, its granite entrance a beacon of the settlement's existence. To his left stood Mount Shann, high as the clouds themselves. To his right was the creek that ran from Rock Ridge to the Dakota. There were no horses in sight. Arthur's brows furrowed in dismay.

"You see anything, girl," he asked Ghost as they came to a stop in the middle of the meadow. Her lack of response told him no. He looked up at the sky and hummed to himself, then took out his pocket watch. All of 5 minutes were left before Albert would come looking for him. He had to get back. With a kick to Ghost's side, Arthur got her going back in the direction they came.