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“I know daddy was not kind to you but….surely you cannot hate a man for the sin of loving his daughter…and wanting better for her than…”
Who is she fooling? A bitter taste lingered in Mary’s mouth trying to explain the past to Arthur. With words repeated by her own father. It felt all too recent. And perhaps it was or had been. All nights living with a nightmare of a man just melded together these days. A bottle in Mister Gillis’ hand, the stench of days old alcohol lingering on him while he spat at her. He knew what was best for his children. Always did. It’s why she and Arthur could never be together. After he saw that ring on her finger. The roof of the Gillis’ family home nearly flew off within the moment. His face going beet red, obscenities shouted to his only daughter. No daughter of his would be caught on the arm of some degenerate. Some lowlife who would have her ruin her life. When in fact he did just that perfectly well.
Seeing her outlaw was the only change that brought a spark of happiness within her. Arthur had come and now here she was trying to reason her father’s words to him. Make him see what she was forced to accept. It was not by her choice alone. No. If given the opportunity she would run with him. But oh, that doesn’t seem like such a possibility now, no. A scowl marred the enforcer’s expression. “Then what? Me?” A response she could hardly agree with. Yet, her father’s voice was so much grander than hers inside. Yes. Yes! Who would be with a rat like him? Forced to hide away in shame of his own crimes. Is that the life you want, Mary? “Oh, Arthur . . . Be kind to me.” After all he was the only man aside from Jamie among the living who would. And did so by helping her when she had nobody to turn to. He didn’t have to and had more than enough reasons to leave her be but Arthur had a kindness in him that others rarely acknowledged or even seen. Mary had seen it and been the recipient of his kindness even at the young age they met.
The pair of them sat on the steps of the hotel. The tension dissipated between them as they spoke. Her recalling their life before, Arthur acknowledging that it was all too long ago now. Then her request. Arthur hesitated but oh that kindness of his. He agreed to help. Soon enough she was on the back of his horse, holding onto him as they rode to the stables. Smoothing out her skirt and blouse Mary looked to the building where her father mentioned being before leaving her at the hotel. “Do you need me to go in with you?” he asks, sensing her hesitation and fear. “No. Just wait out here. I can’t imagine what he would do if he saw you here.” she replies sadly knowing her father will make right on his promises to hurt Arthur. No worse than she has. “Alright, good luck in there. Scream if you need any help.” a lighthearted comment that she knows Arthur would come to her aid. The woman pushes herself through the doors with her head held high leaving the safety of the outlaw.
Behind her the heavy door falls shut and with this it grabs the attention of Mister Gillis. Blood shot eyes are trained on her in an instant. The owner of the stables uses this as a distraction to get away from the man’s needless hassling of trying to bargain more for the horse he was just sold.”You. What are you doing here? You were meant to stay where you were. I’ve told you about meddling in my business.” Her first instinct is to recoil, retreat and put enough distance between them. Even in public the man held no shame in belittling his daughter. “What are you doing? You sold your horse, father. Come home. You’re tired.” It was a mistake to make such a claim. She could see it when his eyes narrowed on the woman, a finger coming up and pointing at her. “Do not presume to know me! Go home! Now. I mean it, Mary. You have no business being here.” Turning away he thumbs through the few bills in his hand. Angered with what the stable owner trying to rip him off and now his daughter putting herself in between his issues. “Please just come home. You’re not well and need the rest.” She pleas with a gentleness in her voice that shouldn’t be given to this man. Not after all the emotional abuse she’s put up with and physical at times. Mary’s father mumbles curses before pushing himself past her. “Not well . . . you’re not well . . . goddamn . . . kids.” Unable to hear what he’s saying, she follows after, risking getting closer in the moment of trying to stop him from going outside. No doubt Arthur lingered and would be seen if he wasn’t already out of sight. The drunk pulls himself from her grip making her flinch, preparing for what’s to come next. Fist raised in the air as she continues with her pleas for him to return home. “I have half a mind to Kill you myself!” he shouts with a look in his eye that she’s seen before. This stops the woman, freezing her in place. Arthur behind them with his arm around the young stable hand. He’s heard the threat followed by the receding footsteps stumbling away.
It makes more sense to him now. Mary attempts to sell him on the idea of her father loving her enough to want better for her. After years being around two of the best con men in the country he knows every variation a snake oil’s salesman can pitch. When he turns around he sees the defeath the woman has accepted. “Mary?” he asks while approaching her slowly. Quickly she moves a hand over her eyes to wipe at the tears that formed. “I’m okay.” she replies with an inhale as she composes herself before she can face Arthur. “It’s not…He didn’t mean that. He’s just..” She can’t bear to look him in the eyes now. “Not well. Yeah. I heard you..” he replies. How many times she told herself that. After enduring god knows what with that cruel bastard. It angers him. “You don’t have to do anything, Arthur. I-I should just go home. I…thank you for coming with me. I know you didn’t have to and shouldn’t but…I appreciate you coming.” Forcing a smile on her brims Arthur could see the sadness hidden behind the facade of happiness. “You don’t have to leave. Or do what he says, Mary,” offering no solution Arthur takes her hand in his. “You shouldn’t have to go through that with him. He ought’a watch how he talks to you. As high an’ mighty he acts, he ain’t no better treating a - his daughter like this.”
Mary appreciates the bravado but it’s a bandage on a wound that’s cut into her deep. “Oh, Arthur. You talk as though we were kids again. I missed that. It was far more simple back then to run away with you. But he’s only gotten worse and he’s right I shouldn’t have come to meddle in his business. It ain’t a woman’s place.” Arthur grows increasingly frustrated with how she’s come to excuse her father. “Stop it, Mary. That’s his words. You and I both know that ain’t true. Him ‘loving’ you, to want better. For you to stay home and do what? Live out your days in fear?” The pair of them are left alone on the street. Even the young man knows he can’t reason with Arthur to take his troubled woman away. “I’m not like you, Arthur. I can’t just run. I could never run. I had no choice either. If I had then that would leave Jamie with him. And you’ve seen how that fared with him joining the Chelonians. I have to help my family too.” Mary envied the freedom the women in the gang had. They didn’t have to put up with the restrictions and standards women like her had. The only freedom she had was living with Barry in a happy marriage that was short lived. Her life ended with him that day he passed. Mary would be forced to return home to endure all that she escaped before with her father. No mother to help. No husband. No friends of the family believed the proud Mister Gillis could be so callous and cold to his children. They lived a cushioned life more than others. Anything she said would be perceived as lies, slander by spoiled children.
A tear rolls down her cheek. Her hand in Arthur squeezes his gently. Pained by the reality that was her life. As terrible as Arthur had it being chased by the law he knew that there was always a chance to escape and run. Mary could not. It took a lot for her to write to him, surely, hardly a soul would return to an ex. But he could never come to terms with accepting himself or her as something of the past. Part of him still loved her. “Mary. I don’t want to send you back to him knowing I could very well not see you again.” Slowly Arthur begins walking her away to someplace private. A park nearby was mostly empty; he began leading her there. “It won’t happen. I know you heard what he’s said but he’s only ever threatened that.” Mary brings her other hand to rest on his forearm as they walk closely. Arthur isn’t convinced. “So you keep sayin’ but one day it could happen. I- There’s nothing that would sadden me more than hearing if he did go through with his threat. To rid this world of someone so . . beautiful. I’ve never known anything like what we had before. Never seen beauty like I do when I look at you, Mary. The only chance of escaping this would be to run away with me. But I’m a wanted man. Anyone close to me risks their life. If the law ever found out . . . I wouldn’t be any better to run off with. Jus’ another problem you’d have to deal with.” They pass through the gates of the park to find an empty bench by the lake and take a seat. Their hands never pull apart. The outlaw hangs his head trying to come up with some other plan that would help them both out. “I know that, Arthur. It never bothered me before.” She sighs, her fingers stroking his hand softly. Brown eyes lift up to look at him, his mind working out thoughts and ideas. Then she pulls a hand away to brush against his cheek where his beard grew. Arthur looks to Mary with those beautiful blue-green eyes she finds herself getting lost in. “If I had any more money we could run away together. Head west. It’s where we’re all headed. It’s where I plan on stayin’ as well. There ain’t nothing for me here ‘cept trouble. And it ain’t getting any better...” he responds while leaning in to her touch. “Would you come with me?” The question is sudden. Mary is taken back. But it was a question she was prepared to ask not in the same way. Just to ask if it would be too late for them to try again? To run away from all their troubles? Both had no money to their name. What was left of hers was taken by her father and gambled or given to the women he slept with.
Yet there was an end to it all. This choice. Their choice was made on their own now. Mary nods, “Yes.” she found her voice and it feels like a weight lifted from her shoulders. “Yes, I would.” Straightening his posture Arthur takes both of her hands in his own, “You would? Y’ mean it? We could -” “Take a train from here. I could write to Jamie. He’s with an aunt and uncle now but, oh, Arthur do you mean it? Could we really run from this?” Excitement builds in her. Her tone changed now. “I do. I need to get some things at camp. Tell…Hosea.” The man who would understand more than anything that this would be for the better with their lifestyle coming to an end. “Then we can go west. I have enough for some tickets for us. Then- Then I ain’ so sure what we can do out there but I never had any idea before. But you’ll be there with me. Tha’s what matters. Your father won’t be there to tell you nothing.” Freedom. At last Mary found herself with more hope than any other day where she lived out nightmares. Pushing herself into Arthur she kisses his cheek. “Yes. That’s all that matters. Oh, I only dreamed of this for us. Is it real? Are you real?” A small laugh escapes him as he receives the kiss and is asked about his existence. His arm moves around her shoulders, keeping her held against his torso. “It is, darlin’. I’m as real as you are here with me. Now and forever.”