Chapter 21 – The Morning

What a strange way to wake up. With a woman who loved him, for one, and who he loved for another. The sun had barely finished rising as streaks of pink and orange still painted across the sky.

He slowly sat up, unable to keep from waking Annabel. She stirred for a minute while he put his shirt on. He watched her as she fussed with tying her dress back up, something she'd neglected to do the night before. He watched her press her hands into her face, as if to wake herself up.

"You ok?"

"Yeah I just need a minute."

She stood up eventually, stretching her back out. Unable to take in any of the scenery surrounding her, her mind was still enthralled in the events of the previous night. Arthur had made his way to the edge of the cliff. She joined him.

"Where do you want to go?" She asked.

"Well, it ain't up to just me." He said scratching his scruff. She smiled.

"I want to go anywhere Arthur, I don't care." He had no idea how much she didn't care. To be with him, that's all she wanted.

He thought for a few minutes. Annabel could see far below to the river bed. She could see the birds fluttering from one rock to another and the deer drinking along the waters edge.

"Let's go someplace you've never been to, Arthur. Some place where no one has ever heard of the Van der Lind gang." She said. And then smiling, she added "Does a place like that even exist? Or are you just too famous of an outlaw?"

He could only chuckle at her sass. "Maybe..." he said, lost in thought.

"Alright," he managed finally. "Lets duck into Valentine quick, see what we can gather as supplies. If we can get ourselves out of New Hanover, that will be a good start."

She nodded and went to collect medicine from the saddlebag. Arthur kicked the remaining fire embers in on themselves, effectively smothering them.

She handed him some medicine, which he took.

"I have something else for you."

He looked over to see her reach through her bag. He held his hand out to receive more medicine but to his surprise she placed a journal.

He paused as if he had never seen one before in his life. His eyes traced in the flexible leather cover and clasp.

"You got this for me?" he asked, almost stupefied.

"Yeah, when we were separated."

"That's..." He shook his head, smiling. "That's real kind of you." He managed.

"Don't write anything bad about me, though."

"Thank you." Her joke fell past him, he was again left stunned and frankly confused by her kindness towards him. She kissed his head gently.

"Let's go then?" She asked. He agreed.

Arthur placed the book in the saddle bag and patted Buell.

"There ain't somewhere you want to go? Surely you have some... I don't know, dream of travelling somewhere." He hoped on the horse.

"Not really... You know whats funny?" She asked, as she grabbed his arm and he hoisted her up behind him.

"What's that?"

"I remember when you sent me away, you told me I was going to get a life that I hadn't even dreamed of yet. But I had already dreamt about the future I wanted, I dreamt it the first day I met you. And it was exactly this."

Fin.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the story! I have to admit there is an epilogue rolling around in my head, so please feel free to let me know, DM or comment, if there's interest. And if there is, what would you like to see? I have the general idea, but there's lots of potential for adventure along the way.