The Last Love Of Arthur Morgan

Gainful Employment

*Dont let the picture fool you*

...

"So whata'ya say, Arthur?" John rasped.

Arthur, who was leaning against the stall door, stood back up and scratched his chin. It was a tempting offer, very tempting indeed. Bounty hunting was serious business, but rewarding - he'd be able to split the profits with John, Charles and Sadie.  

"I'm thinkin' about it."

"Think hard. We have to give Sadie and Charles an answer by tonight." John griped, as he mucked the stalls.

"Well, the only thing that's stoppin' me from jumping in, is...do I wanna start with that life again? I'm forty-three, John - ain't no spring chicken. I got a family now an' the prospect of goin' after bad guys for money, well, as tempting as it is, I ain't too sure of it."

"I can understand that. I'm thirty-seven and I wonder if I should just put the wild ways behind me too. It's just - life ain't excitin' if there ain't no adventure."

Arthur scoffed."You call that an adventure?"

"Well you get to see a lot of the country this way and, most importantly, you make a better America for future generations."

"Maybe you should write greeting cards instead, Johnny boy." Arthur laughed, clapping John's shoulder.

John grumbled and tossed a shovel of cow manure at Arthur. The older man reared back, a slew of curses escaping his lips. John keeled over laughing, slapping his leg, as Arthur tried brushing off the mess.

"What the fuck, Marston?"

"Lighten up, Arthur. You always walk around with a stick up your ass-"

"I'll shove a stick up your ass, c'mere!"

John ran to the other end of the barn, knocking things over to bide him some time, but Arthur had the upper advantage. He knew John's weakness. He kicked him in the back of his calf, the one he injured long ago and sent him flying face first into the ground. 

Arthur laughed as he pressed his foot in-between John's shoulder blades, pushing him deeper into the manure. A wave of satisfaction washed over him, as John pleaded with him to stop.

"Now we both smell like shit." 

He finally pulled his foot away and backed up, leaning against the crates for the chickens. Lorna walked in on her way to the chicken coop, and stopped to view the scene before her. John stood up covered in dirt and manure, snarling at Arthur as he shuffled around the barn for his hat.

"I can't leave you boys alone for a minute, can I?" She asked, placing a hand on her hip.

"Well the golden boy started it."

"I don't care who started it, Arthur. You boys are too old to be acting this way - I think it's high time you both grew up." Basket in hand, Lorna left the barn without another word said. 

Arthur sat there, chuckling to himself, feeling a little ridiculous - but triumphant, of course. He'd always managed to get the better of John and it always felt good. John waltzed over, hat returned to his filthy head and continued mucking the stalls.

"Next time, don't start somethin' you can't finish." Arthur warned.

John snorted."I coulda finished it, Arthur. I just didn't wanna hurt ya!"

"Oh please."

Arthur left the barn in search of Lorna and he found her happily feeding the chickens, after having collected all their eggs. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her; she squealed, dropping the bucket of chicken feed, sending the chickens into a fluttering, screeching fit. She turned ready to argue, when her nose scrunched - she pushed him away.