All characters engaging in sexual activities are 18 years of age or older.
Any grammar or spelling mistakes are of my own doing.
STORY BEGINS HERE.
“I broke the god damn wheel.” Arthur said to Javier.
Hosea and Charles lifted the back of the wagon, while Arthur lifted the heavy wheel, sat it back on the rod, and slammed his body into it a few times. Once it was back on properly, he tightened the metal hub. Bill and Javier had continued on, while the three of them fixed the problem.
After putting a few things that had fallen off the wagon, back on, Hosea noticed three Indians on horseback looking down on them, from a ridge on the other side of the river that they had just crossed.
“What you think? Arthur asked out loud.
“If they wanted trouble, we wouldn’t have seen them.” Charles replied.
Hosea waved, and Charles just looked at him.
“Poor bastards. We really screwed them over down here.” Hosea said.
Both parties just looked at each other for a brief period of time.
“Come on. Let’s not push our luck.” Hosea said.
The three of them finished putting the stuff that had fallen out, back into the wagon and continued on their way. Hosea told Arthur and Charles about how the government had stolen every blade of grass. A large number of them were killed in battles, and the rest were herded onto reservations to live. That led into conversations about how the gang isn’t any different, no matter what Dutch says.
Charles talked about his mother and father. He talked about his life and backstory. Hosea vented about how they were moving east instead of west. He talked to Arthur and Charles about the area they were going to camp in. He told them about the local town called Valentine.
“Cowboys, outlaws, working girls. Our kind of place.” Hosea said.
As Arthur drove the wagon, he watched Hosea make a health potion. He ended up giving him his kit, as well as some yarrow and ginseng. As they started to pull into Horseshoe Overlook, Arthur stopped and picked up Javier, who was just outside guarding the camp. By the time that Arthur had pulled his wagon into camp, it was almost completely set up. Miss Grimshaw, the girls, and the rest of the gang had done a great job.
Arthur followed Dutch and Hosea around, as they argued about what had happened it Blackwater. Why they were moving the opposite direction, than what they want and had planned. Herr Strauss decided to go into town and try to “strike up a little business”, as he put it. Dutch called everyone around by the back of his tent. Told everyone that it was “time to get to work”. He told Uncle and Reverend Swanson “no more passengers”.
As the meeting broke up, Miss Grimshaw came up to Arthur.
“Now the girls have your tent ready Mr. Morgan, come with me.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine Miss Grimshaw.”
“It should be, most of your stuff from Blackwater got saved.”
“Everything apart from my money.” Arthur replied.
“Oh, don’t remind me.” she replied curtly.
“Well, we can always make more money.” he replied lightly.
“We’re gonna have to.” Miss Grimshaw replied, walking away from him while yelling at Tilly.
Arthur sat down and put a cigarette in his mouth. He used the heel of his boot, to strike a match aflame, and took a long drag. Breathing out the smoke, he felt his shoulders relax. He felt a lot calmer than he had been the last month or so. Feeling all that stress leave his body, Arthur’s shoulders and back released, causing his elbows to fall to his knees.
Arthur spent the next two weeks hunting. He purposely used the bow and arrows that Charles had given him.
The first time that Arthur got a buck, Pearson took the antlers and hung them up in a tree as windchimes. He’d also killed a wolf that had crossed the Dakota River, and come too close to camp. Arthur had also been gathering different kinds of feathers. He’d killed some turkey’s while hunting as well. Most of the feathers, he had found while hunting or simply walking around the camp and surrounding area.
Most everyone was sitting or standing around the main campfire, when Arthur announced that he was done hunting. He was going to get back out there and find some work. Pearson thanked him for getting their supply back up to a surplus.
“We have enough brined and salted meat to last for two weeks. Someone still needs to go out and get meat everyday though.” he said aloud so that everyone heard him.
“Once again, Mr. Morgan has been doing all the heavy lifting. Besides doing all the hunting, he’s also been the most helpful around camp. We’d all be dead if it wasn’t for Arthur.” Miss Grimshaw spoke loudly.
