Unshaken

Turning Over a New Leaf: Chez Porter

Arthur and Liam rode up, expecting to see Sadie, John, Abigail, Tilly, Jack and possibly Susan. Liam couldn't believe what he saw. Everyone who Liam thought had left for good was there. Sadie, John, Abigail, Jack, Susan, Tilly, Karen, Mary-Beth, Kieran, Sean, Pearson, Reverend, Uncle and even Cain had made it there. Arthur and Liam laughed in surprise and relief as the group stood up, smiling and laughing along with them. Abigail even crying tears of joy, her face glistening in the golden sunrise in the east.

"How did you folks find each other?" Arthur asked in shock. "When everything started going bad, we all came up with a plan for when it did." Mary-Beth said, smiling. Liam hopped down from the horse and helped Arthur off. They were greeted with warm coffee and canned goods. He went to Colter, giving him the biggest hug he could. He knew he could've very well lost his horse. They sat around the fire with John. "I- It's... I'm glad you two are okay. I thought I'd never see y'all again." John told them. His shoulder was patched up where he'd been shot on the train. "I didn't think so either. But something somewhere is biding by my luck." Arthur said in contentment. "And I have this little fireball here always coming when I need him the most." He said ruffling Liam's hair. Liam smiled and took the last sip of the coffee he was drinking. Liam saw Arthur's bruising in the morning light, as he did his own. The two laid down and got a bit of sleep to recover and soothe their wounds.

The group came around them again. Liam and Arthur woke. "So what's next, Arthur?" Sadie asked. Arthur thought for a moment. "I know a place. A house up in the mountains just north of Valentine. Chez Porter, I think it's called. Law avoided the place because of a family that lived there before me and Javier killed them all. Reckon ain't nobody been there since. Well hidden and easy to defend." Arthur told them. "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's get packing and moving." Susan told everyone. They quickly gathered their things on wagons and climbed on their horses and rode out west into New Hanover. "Now we better be discreet and make sure no Pinkertons or law find us." Arthur said as they rode into the Heartlands. Liam rode on the leading wagon with Arthur.

Before they made it to Emerald Ranch, Arthur turned the caravan northward into The Grizzlies. "Better if we go through there where the Pinkertons won't find us." He said. As they rode into the mountains, Liam thought about the camp. He knew the area was infested with Pinkertons. They were lucky to have the supplies that the others brought when they left. He and Arthur's stuff was back at Beaver Hollow. He hoped the government wouldn't confiscate what he'd left.

As they rode, Liam saw a burst of water blast up ahead in Cotorra Springs. He watched in amazement. He and everyone behind them gawk in awe at the sight. "Beautiful, ain't it? Ain't been up here in a while." Arthur told him. The ride gave Liam time to think. He turned to Arthur. "So what were you gonna do after me and John left?" Liam asked. Arthur looked out towards the mountainous region. "I was gonna let y'all live. Have another chance at a life outside of this bullshit." He said. "Well... thank you, Arthur. I ain't never met nobody like you." Liam said. "I can say the same. Time and time again you risk your neck for mine? The night you shot that O'Driscoll when they was about to kill me, then again you came after me when they grabbed me and got stabbed doing it, stopping me from getting tuberculosis, the pig farm incident and last night. I don't think I can ever repay you." Arthur said. "Look, running into y'all, even as bad as it got, was the best thing that ever happened to me. I don't know where the hell I would be right now. Probably rotting somewhere from getting myself killed. Taking me in and caring for me when nobody else did is repayment enough. We're a family, and you've saved my life too. That's what family does for each other." Liam told him. "You're right." Arthur said as they rode over a bridge that went over a large creek.

After a while more of riding, Arthur turned the wagon north on a trail into the trees. After a moment of riding, Liam saw a huge wooden house, a small cabin, and a large barn in a fenced-in bit of land. "This place is perfect! Deep in the mountains and trees and easy to defend. And it's even got a watch tower!" Liam said excitedly. "And no law." Arthur reminded. The rest of the caravan pulled up in their wagons. The cool air made Liam put on his hunters jacket. The group looked at the place in contentment. "John, Liam, go check the barn for any visitors. Sadie and Karen, y'all check the cabin. Sean, we'll check the house. Rest of y'all wait here until we know it's safe." Arthur instructed the gang.

They did as he said and went into the buildings and checked every corner for people, finding no one. The place had been deserted for a while. They all met back up in the middle of the secluded homestead. "I think we'll be good here, for now. Things are gonna be different, though. We're gonna try our best to not attract the law to us like all the other times before. We keep cool heads and our identities hidden whatever we do. Most of our money is back at Beaver Hollow. There'll be a new collection box and things will be the same as before, half the earnings go to the box. If we wanna get back on our feet, we gotta make some money. Small jobs are fine as long as they're quiet. This is a new start for all of us." Arthur told everybody. It made Liam excited to start living a bit differently.

"John, you, Abigail and Jack will get this cabin over here." Susan told them. Abigail smiled as they walked over to it to be situated. "And the rest of y'all, ain't nobody sleeping outside no more. This house is big enough for even this odd bunch." She said. This made everyone happy. Susan worked everyone and herself and got the place cleaned up. The house looked like a home. The fire in the hearth warmed the big house. The women and men had their separate rooms. Liam looked at the big living space the house had. He walked into the two sleeping areas for them. Uncle, Reverend, Sean and Kieran had their things on the bunks. Pearson had another cot on the bottom floor. The loft above them had another cot which Susan saved for Charles when he returned. He went to the ladies room. Susan, Karen had their things on the bottom bunks while Tilly and Mary-Beth had theirs on the tops. Sadie had a cot in the loft above them. He was glad to see everyone sleeping under a roof now, even if it was a bit crowded. He then walked to Arthur's room in the little area that led as a passageway outside. There were two cots in it. Arthur had a bedroll set up for himself already.

"Maybe we can sneak back over to Beaver Hollow and get our stuff once everything cools down." He said. "I hope so." Liam told him. "Oh, and that's your bed." Arthur said pointing to the second cot on the other said of the small room. Liam smiled. "Thanks." He said. "Now come on, let's go check this place out." Arthur said walking out the door of the room. Liam followed him outside.

They trailed the property looking for places for them to guard the area. "I'm glad things are changing. We can finally live a way that keeps us alive." Liam said. "I know. It makes me sad that Hosea and Lenny ain't here for this." Arthur admitted. "Wherever they are, I hope they're happy." Liam said. "Me too. And we're gonna follow in old Hosea's footsteps. We're heading West. We'll stay here and be quiet for a while, then when the time is right and our money is good, we head to New Austin." Arthur told him. Liam thought for a moment. "What's it like, the West?" Liam asked. Arthur looked off into the distance. "Free. Wild. Real open country like you've never felt." Arthur said. "I can't wait." Liam told him.

That night Pearson cooked a big pot of stew and everyone ate. They knew what the future held and what they had to do to get where they were going. They sat around the campfire in the middle of the ranch, singing and dancing, and a little drinking. The chilly air was drawn off by the fire. Everyone laughed and had a good time knowing that they were safe again. Liam, buzzed, walked to his cot and fell right asleep. That night he dreamt dreams of a desert.