Strawberry Chapter 1 (Rewrite)
Arthur X OC RDR 2 Fanfiction, Romance, Action, Mystery.
"I decided to take a ride out of blackwater on my own for a while. Hosea has been riding me all week about getting into trouble at the saloon again, guess I should not have had that third bottle of whiskey. I thought it best to disappear till things cool down. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around them since they are trying to cook up some big plan and they compared me to a bull in an antique shop. I heard up Mount Shann there is a bald eagle or two nesting near the top. I have never seen one before, so maybe I might get lucky and shoot one out of the air or... at least get a sketch of it and some feathers. Who knows. Strawberry is a beautiful town, and I am enjoying the scenery up here. The stable is well built with wooden carvings and statues around the property. Someone is either pretty wealthy or handy with small tools."
The blonde man known as Arthur Morgan scribbled into his leather back journal a picture of the Gate to Strawberry, he sat on the back of a Grey and White Arabian horse which grazed on the pile of hay inside a trove. The pair were sheltered from the rain at a nearby stable down the road from the small town of Strawberry. Arthur was dressed in a white bison leather coat as well as having a wolf pelt draped over his shoulders. It was a wet afternoon, and the sun shone high in the sky breaking apart the rain clouds which had just finished their storming, though the distance dark thunder clouds were still looming in the distance. His worn and torn green hat tipped low over his eyes casting a large shadow over his face as people walked by paying him little mind as they went about closing up the stable for the evening. After the rain calmed to a spit, he folded up his journal and tucked it away into his satchel, He shook out his fur cowl of any last remaining droplets of water and dusted off his sleeves. He reared the horse back away from her food, and she honked disapprovingly having been interrupted during her snack. "Hey, now Princess lets get moving there will more once we arrive at the hotel." He said patting her neck as she pranced in the spot shaking her wet mane. He leaned back and eased her to turn around slowly. He clicked his tongue on his teeth and gave her a squeeze with his thighs, and she pushed forward heading back for the road and up the hill. The short walk made harder for the steed from the extra weight of a buck carcass hanging off her rear. Behind them, a mule was following close on their tail led by a single rope tied onto Princess's saddle. He too was carrying a buck much larger than the other, and he was trotting along behind happily honking once Arthur looked back to him with a smile. "Good boy." He said and tugged the rope so the Mule would follow closer to him on his left. As they crested the hill, they entered a bustling town with muddy streets. Carts and horses had gotten stuck in the mud from the sudden burst of rain which had flooded the dirt streets, there were crowds gathered trying to pull people out of the mud, and the main thoroughfare was a dangerous zone for travellers. Arthur dodged his two mammals around the long way and through the shallow mud avoiding the thick areas and brought them to the closest hitch he could find. The cowboy dismounted and hitched them up positioning the Arabian along with his mule and secured them together on the post. As he approached the butcher counter no one was attending it as a group of people were gathered in the street around some commotion currently blocked from his view by a carriage stuck in the muck. He walked towards the crowd curiously and heard two women fighting, their screams of anger shrill and loud echoing around the group that had gathered. As he was but a few steps away, the people cheered loudly as a loud smash of wood was heard, and he dodged a flying piece of wood which smacked someone else in the face — quickly turning back to see where the projectile had come from. There were two women in a pit of mud covered head to toe wrestling each other, pulling hair and screaming like banshees. "You lying bitch! That was my momma's ring, and I'll be damned if I will see it on your whore of a finger!" The first girl said screaming, her dark brown hair a muddy mess tangled and knotted as the woman she was fighting was currently bending her over using her hair as leverage over her. Her clothing was slick with pale brown mud revealing much of her figure to the crowd, the dress was torn and shredded at the sleeves, and she was currently at the others mercy. "I bought it with my own money, take it up with the jeweller! I paid for it!" The red-headed woman holding her down said with a mighty voice and a scowl on her face currently in control of the fight. She too was slick with the pale brown mud and her red expensive corseted dress was splattered with muck, she was struggling in the dirt under the constraints of the skirt and heels, but for the moment she had things under control. There was a broken bucket beside them on the ground, and the redhead had splintered wood in her hair and blood was dripping out her nose. "What happened?" Arthur asked witnessing the fight now taking in the scene. He felt his chest tighten as the crowd just stood there and watched as these two rather lovely ladies fought like animals to their amusement. "That little bitch there just smashed that whore in the face with a bucket Hooheey! Fight! Fight!" A balding drunk chanted along with other encouraging the fight. "Disgusting, you just sit there and watch!?" Authur shouted and marched into the centre of the crowd towards the two brawling women. He entered the mud pit which slowed his pace and without hesitation joined the fight. As the red-head slipped in her heels, the brunette swung her foot up in an attempt to kick her, but Arthur slapped it down and grabbed the redhead's hand and pried it free from the brunette's hair. "That's enough!" He shouted and forced them apart. The redhead barely fought against him as he pried her hand off of the girl. He threw her hand away, and she pulled it to her chest panting heavily but still looking at the strange, handsome man who decided the fight needed to stop. The Brunette, however, took this moment to attempt to tackle through Arthur but he stopped her easily and picked her up. She kicking and screaming started splashing mud over Arthur trying to get past him to attack the redhead. He carried her a few steps away and set her down on her feet. "Let me go she's nuttin but a who-Augh!" In the midst of her tantrum, Arthur pushed her back, and she slipped in the mud and fell onto her butt in a large paddy of thick mud. "Shut up and go home." He barked loudly. It was clear she was the one who started the fight as the redhead merely stood there trying to regain her breath and was suffering from being smashed with a bucket. "The fact you have anything to say about me Henrietta is a laugh! You've slept with half the town for free!" The redhead shouted after she brushed her hair back off her face and noticed the blood on her fingers. She tried to move but ended up stuck in the mud unable to escape her heels. Arthur saw how she was trapped and left the brunette to flounder in the muck to assist the woman in red by giving her his hand. She took his hand and with his grip firm and solid arm she was able to pull herself free from the thick mud. "Are you alright mam?" He asked and noticed her red matching coat to her dress was stuck in the mud too. He pulled it out and shook it off and handed it to her which she took and collected under her arm. She was still trying to accept the fact they got drenched in mud, and her head was spinning, so the woman barely glanced at him. Arthur, however, studied her for a moment, her face half smeared with mud, and he could scarcely see the freckles which crested her shallow nose. Her eyes, however, were a stunning green shade inside perfectly shaped almond eyes which could not be masked by the dirt. For a brief moment, she glanced back and mouthed a thank you then held her face where she got hit with the bucket. "Thank you. I should be alright." She said and touched her nose and winced. Before Arthur was able to say anything mentioning her possibly broken nose face, Henrietta interrupted. "I'll kill you!" Henrietta screamed and finally scrambled up off the ground. Once Henriette got onto her feet she grabbed a piece of splintered wood and headed back for the woman in red. She stopped in her tracks as all the attention turned when the click of a gun being cocked sounded. Arthur had a surprised look on his face as he watched the redhead lightning quick drew his silver-plated volcanic pistol from his belt and pointed it at the brunette. He looked down to his belt and back to her somewhat intrigued on how she was able to stealthily and speedily draw his gun. The crowd stood still as everyone froze waiting for the snap of a bullet to fire. Only silence followed. A second click of the hammer and a second gun was involved. This time eyes turned towards the carriage where the fight took place. "Excuse me. I think it's time you got back into the carriage, Isabella." A third woman stated in a soft, elegant voice with a British accent. She was wearing a large white hat with plums of coloured feathers and flowers with blonde curly hair tumbling out from under it. Her royal blue and the well-tailored corseted dress fit her curves snugly, and something about her struck Arthur as familiar as if he had seen her before. She was enchanting to witness, but her angelic look was contrasted by long barreled high-velocity rifle firm in her grip. She was standing in the door of the carriage with her boot stepped up on the frame so she could rest the barrel of the gun on her thigh and had pointed it at Henrietta. Arthur started to feel the sweat dripping down his neck at the situation he found himself in since his pistol was no longer in his hands. "May I suggest," Arthur spoke and put his hand on the Redheads and lowered her gun in a gentle motion. "You give her the ring?" He asked the woman who glared at him in response. "If she can pay for it." The blonde woman from the carriage said. "I can't pay for it... but it's mine." Henrietta had tears in her eyes, she was full spirited and ready to fight, but the two guns pointed at her left her scared and nervous. "Is it worth dying over?" Arthur asked her kindly. "...Yes," Henrietta replied as her eyes swelled up. Whatever the ring meant to her. It was surely something important since her face was red with rage. "Ugh! Fine!" The redhead let the pistol fall, and she let out a long frustrated growl and shoved the pistol into Arthur's hands. He eased her rash actions and took the weapon and held it in hand more confident in the situation now with his gun returned to him. The redhead pulled off her gloves and removed a small gold ring from her finger that has a sapphire embedded into it. "Take it, but you need to cover the costs to clean my clothes, the gentleman's too." She said and pulled herself through the mud, the train of her dress dragging through the mud but she walked with a hauty march, she approached the miserable girl and handed the ring to her. As Henrietta gripped the wood in her hand, the splintered wood weapon still tight in her grip she wanted to swing, but the blonde still had her at gunpoint. Henrietta dropped the chunk of wood and took the ring back, shaking her head silently in agreement. "Now that's the end of that! Everyone can go right fuck off then eh!" The redhead yelled at the crowd who groaned seeing such an anticlimax end to the argument. They started to move on as the blonde released Henrietta from gunpoint. "I will pick up your clothes tomorrow at noon for cleaning. I can't afford the cleaners, but I can do it myself." Henrietta said and slipped the ring on her finger and held it to her chest. "I am fine no need to worry about my clothes," Arthur said and attempted to leave. "Nonsense. A Gentlemen like yourself does not get to leave so suddenly. You stepped in the middle of a fight that is not your own to protect ladies from their own squabble. We have to thank you." The blonde spoke up and shouldered her weapon. "I merely did not want to see bloodshed today. I'm glad I could assist good day mam." He said and tipped his hat to them and walked off anyway. The ladies started discussing things amongst themselves, and Arthur exited the mud pit and headed back to the butchers counter where the man who was watching the event had returned too.
A white bison leather jacket, handcrafted after hunting a rare creature in the snowy mountains was now splattered with mud and fertiliser as Arthur slugged through the mud which flooded the street of Strawberry. The weather in the distance started to darken as the thunder clouds began to grow above. What was a freak downpour was about to become a storm and Arthur looked up assessing what his next steps should be? He looked to his horse and mule and started to untie the carcasses from their backs while his thoughts were stirring. Hiking up a mountain trail with two mammals was hard enough, but Princess was an extraordinarily skittish girl, and as Arthur lifted the buck off the Arabian's back she danced and swayed in spot huffing heavily and shaking her mane. Princess would not fare well in a thunderstorm even with all of Arthur's attention, and he could not ignore his mule. After Arthur handed off to the first buck to the butcher, he returned to the happy boy who neighed with joy when Arthur came near and stroked his neck. "Who's a good boy." He soothed him as he began to nibble at his bandana tugging it gently. No one could ignore the...
"He's cute, what's his name?" A feminine voice spoke up from behind him. It was the blonde Englishwoman from the carriage. She must have followed him across the road since her perfectly clean black boots now had muck on them yet she was immaculate from any mess on her blue dress. "I call him the Duke," Arthur said giving him a few heavy pats. "I'm in love with how sweet he is on you." She said and folded her hands over her heart watching the Mule fawn over his loving owner. "He's a handful alright, always wanting attention but he is a good boy," Arthur added when the Duke snatched the bandana from his neck and ripped two buttons off his shirt at the same time — trying to eat it while he was distracted. "Hey! No no no give it back." Arthur scrambled to pull the fabric out of the Duke's teeth before he swallowed it as a cackle of giggles burst from the blonde beauty who watched in amusement. Arthur stepped back away from the mule who extended himself to the maximum range he could on his lead, his teeth still desperately reaching for Arthur as he looked at the slobbery bandana now torn in two. "I'm glad I can entertain you," Arthur said and pocketed it as she finally overcame her giggle fit. "My apologies, but I had to come over and talk to you myself, and I'm not here to tease I promise." She said and stepped back allowing Arthur the space he needed so he could finish unloading his kill to the butcher. Arthur returned to his task and started to unstrap the second buck from the Duke's once he distracted him with a sugar cube. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Arthur asked as he hauled the buck onto his shoulder with ease. "If you would allow myself and the girls to buy you dinner, as a thank you. Bella is too proud to ask for help let alone thank someone herself. She doesn't like being a damsel in distress, but you stepped in when we needed someone to step in." The mysterious blonde stood and watched him work, and Arthur could feel her gaze as he hulled the buck onto the table. A sly little grin on his face and he puffed his chest out a little bit when he stood back up. Taking off his hat to comb his hair back with his fingers as the butcher handed him a handful of cash. He took the money and thanked the butcher and walked back to girl replacing his hat on his head. "Well, I was going to ride north and camp in the mountains, but with this storm coming in and an invitation as welcoming like that. I'm still going to have to decline." Arthur said bluntly walking up to her to be direct. Her mouth was agape, and she gasped, but there was a massive smile on her face in response to the grin on Arthur's. "You are something else. Well maybe this will change your mind, My name is Lady Rosalyn Bush, and I suggest you reconsider. " She said and cocked an eyebrow at him. "That's a familiar name," Arthur said looking at her curiously. Her face brought a sense of nostalgia to him, he had seen it before, and that name was making it even more so. "A man who enjoys camping must have a can of beans or two in his satchel. Perhaps you should take one out and look a little closer." She crossed her arms with an air of pride. Arthur, now curious, did indeed have a can of beans on him, so he flipped open his bag and not taking his eyes off her pulled it out and checked the label quickly. "Well, I'll be damned. Is this you?" He asked turning the label towards her. The image of a lady painted on the side beside the company brand with long braided blonde hair and big blue eyes. "Yes sir, and that is my recipe too." She said with a smile and struck the pose on the side label flashing her brilliant smile which was what brought that nostalgia to him. Many years were spent staring at her face on the side of the can beside campfires and dirty ditches. "Then I must be dreaming if I am in the presence of someone truly famous because I sure do enjoy your beans very much," Arthur said and gave her a bow. A little guilt behind his eyes. "Most cowboys do, but I don't very much like all the cowboys. Or girls for that matter, ever since we arrived the people have been nothing but hostile towards me and my caravan. It's been a while since a kind soul has crossed our path and I do not wish to risk bad luck on the rest of our journey by not taking care of those who show my girls and I kindness. So I ask you to please reconsider and let me spoil you." Rosalyn was very stern with her words but welcoming and kind. She spoke like Dutch did when addressing the gang with a fierce intensity behind her eyes which locked onto his. He fell victim to her gaze once again this time unable to decline. "Oh alright, you can buy me dinner. Though I'm probably going to need a bath as well to clean up after that little fight your girl started." Arthur added and unhitched his two companions from their post. If he played his cards right, she might even cover all his costs to stay in town for the night and perhaps he could leave with his pockets a little heavier then when he came. "My girls start no fights, but we do finish them I'll explain later. The carriage got stuck in the mud, so everyone already went on foot to the hotel. Why don't you get those two cuties stabled and meet me there?" Rosalyn said and hicked her skirt up to ready herself to trek through the mud. Her boots already stained with two inches of dirt on them, and they didn't look like good boots to stomp in through the mud. "Get on." Arthur gestured to Princess. "Really?" She asked gazing at the beautiful white Arabian. "You're wearing expensive clothes. I'll give you a ride." He said and held the lead for Princess towards her. "Is it friendly?" Rosalyn asked and approached the horse. "She's skittish, but with me here she will be alright." He said as Rosalyn walked up to her and took the lead before approaching her cautiously and slowly. Princess swayed away from her at first but relaxing as the Lady pet her neck gently. "She is beautiful. What's her name." "Princess." "Ah, I get it." She pointed between the two animals and chuckled. "Very cute. Am I to be right to assume this is a rare horse? I don't see many albino white horses roaming around" She asked and hoisted herself up and sat side saddle on the White Arabian and held the horn to keep her steady. Arthur got up onto the Duke who honked very loudly when he was mounted and turned to her. "You could say so, hard to tame though. Probably won't be able to sell her for much if I can't get her to relax." He clicked his teeth and gave the command, and the pair started back down the hill towards the stable.
Most of the ride was spent giving Rosalyn instructions on how to keep Princess settled, with a strange rider on her back and her attempts to ride all ladylike. The horse was left agitated the entire time. Rosalyn almost getting bucked off twice when she tried to lead her to roughly yanking on the reins trying to stop herself from falling off. "Okay, I think it's time I got off now." Rosalyn's voice was shaky as she struggled with Princess to lead her up to the stable. One of the hands had to run out and grab Princess before she reared and Rosalyn hopped off her quickly as the Horse began to prance more and more, and the blonde escaped the horse. "I should have told you to sit properly, or else she won't respect you." Arthur was chuckling the whole way down riding gracefully on the back of the Mule who marched with pride now that the love of his life was riding his back. "Well, it's a good thing the hotel isn't far from here. I think walking will be safer." Rosalyn ran out of the stable leaving the horse hand and Arthur to take care of hitching them up. They were de-saddled, housed and fed before Arthur left them inside and headed back out to meet Rosalyn who was in the middle of paying the Stableman. "Give them some extra treats and a bath for me please." She said and gave the gent a kiss on the cheek and an extra 5 dollars. "Yes, indeed Lady Bush." He said and tipped his hat to her running off as Arthur approached.
"Would you like to meet my girls now?" Rosalyn asked. "Sure!" Arthur said and took off his hat as they headed into the hotel, he didn't even have to ask she was throwing money around. What was once a hunting trip to escape the gang's noose, was going to turn into a pretty hefty score if he played this woman right.
