When the Devil Cries (Arthur Morgan X Male OC)

8. Third Time's a Charm

From Arthur's POV

NOON

BLUEWATER MARSH

Watching the gators feed on Middleton's corpse as blood flooded through the swamps, I observed the morbid scene from a distance and bid farewell to the assassin, still thinking about the fight I had with him not too long ago.

I knew next to nothin' about Thatcher, or what his business with Eddie was...but something in my gut told me I had just killed a man who was better off left alone.

After all, Middleton seemed like the type of feller to have friends in high places, and I could only imagine the sorta folks I'd pissed off by putting a knife in his throat.

A troubled sigh escaped me.

Lord...what had I gotten my sorry ass into this time?

Not only did I murder a man today, I also just fed him to a bunch of beasts like some goddamned animal. I knew I weren't no saint, but even then...I still had some twisted sense of honor to keep my sanity from deteriorating completely.

But perhaps...it was already too late. Perhaps my sanity crumbled the minute Dutch and I fled from Blackwater. Or even before that.

I just didn't know anymore.

Turning away from the gators, I lightly snapped my horse's reins and galloped out of the marsh, hurrying my way back to Saint Denis while the day was still young.

I had left Eddie alone for much longer than I was comfortable with, and despite Thatcher being gone now...I still couldn't stop myself from worrying about the pianist's safety.

I mean, someone clearly wanted that man dead. But who? And why? What had Eddie done to get an assassin sent after him?

Was this boy really who I pegged him to be?

Or was he just another crook wearing a mask...like the rest of this damned country? ...Like me? I certainly hoped not.

Whatever happened, I doubted our problems would end here.

If I recalled correctly, one of the first things Eddie told me was that he was also lookin' for freedom. But from what? Debt? Middleton? Both?

Well...Eddie did say he was gonna explain it all later, so I guessed I'd find out soon enough.

I just had a feelin' I weren't gonna like the answer.

~~~~~~~~~~

A WHILE LATER

SAINT DENIS, RYAN RESIDENCE

Riding up to Eddie's house, I quickly hitched my horse next to Thatcher's mount -- who I didn't think realized his owner was dead just yet -- and hurried inside, constantly checking over my shoulders to make sure no one was followin' me.

Barely half of the day had passed, and already I'd dug myself into a deeper hole than the one Dutch was currently workin' on.

I mean, technically, what Middleton said was right. None of this was any of my business. I had no need to get involved. No need to protect Eddie. And yet...I just couldn't stay out of it. I couldn't walk away...no matter how much I probably should have.

There was just somethin' holding me back. Something preventing me from doin' what I normally did, and leaving people to their own problems.

Dutch, Hosea, and I...we was strugglin' enough -- what with all the Pinkertons and lawmen and O'Driscolls on our tail. The last thing they needed was for me to go and throw some more bullshit onto their plate.