Chapter Text
With a final stroke over the mare’s red chestnut coat, Arthur Morgan hummed with contentment and dropped the brush into his satchel. Glen looked over from the next stall, where he was busy tacking up his tobiano Paint gelding, Archer.
“She’s beautiful,” he commented, admiring her finely dished face and delicate features.
Arthur scoffed, reaching over to grab his saddle, “Yeah, and she knows it too.” He tossed the saddle on and adjusted the blanket, the horse pinning her ears and swishing her tail.
“Is she an Arabian?” Glen asked.
“She sure is.” Arthur reached under, and in one fluid motion pulled up on the cinch and threw his elbow into the nose of the mare reaching back to bite.
Glen snorted, pulling the cinch on his own saddle, “She’s ornery.”
Arthur chuckled and started leading her out of the stable, “She’s a brat, but that’s why I’m working with her. The owner wants to get the buck outta her and get her back into condition. Shouldn’t be so difficult, I can tell she’s a sweetheart underneath. Ain’t you girl?” He cooed the last bit, scratching her chest. Glen rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile, following Arthur outside.
The cool November air greeted them as they hitched the horses next to Albert’s Suffolk mare, who was already tacked and ready. Arthur absently gave her a head rub, looking over at their little cabin by Cattail Pond. He checked his pocket watch, then glanced at Glen, “You want to go let Albert know we’re all set? Not sure what’s keeping the man; he’s usually out here by now.”
“Ok Pa.” He gave Archer a pat and walked inside.
Arthur let out a breath and stepped over to the wood pile, opting to chop some logs to pass the time. Three swings in, Eddie suddenly burst from the cabin, nearly startling the hefted axe out of his grip, “Jesus Eddie, what’s the rush?”
Eddie grinned at him and presented the schoolbooks in his hand. “Sorry we’re late Pa, I couldn’t find my books!” He started to climb onto the Suffolk, struggling with one hand occupied.
Arthur sighed and shook his head fondly, “Hand ‘em over kid, so’s you don’t fall on your backside.” Eddie giggled and gave his books over. Arthur lowered a hand, “Come on, I’ll give you a leg up.”
As the kid got settled behind the saddle, Albert walked out, followed by Glen. “Apologies love, we had a bit of a mystery to solve.” He pecked Arthur on the cheek, then looked skyward, frowning. “I think it’s going to rain.” He looked back to the man beside him, scrutinizing his light jacket, “Do you have your waxed coat?”
Arthur rolled his eyes, snaking an arm around the man’s waist, “Yes mother, it’s in my saddlebag. And it’s been gray for over a week now, what makes you think today is the day it’ll rain?”
Albert smiled and ducked his head, “Just a feeling, I suppose. Care to put a wager on it?” He finished with a wry grin.
Arthur laughed, “I think I’ve been a bad influence on you. Yeah alright. What are your terms, gambling man?”
Albert stroked his beard in thought, “Hmm, how about if I win, you pay me five dollars, and you have to take me out to dinner.”
“Psh, well, those are some high stakes. I’ll match that bet.” He gave Albert a lopsided grin.
Albert kissed his cheek, “Deal.” He disentangled himself and mounted his Suffolk, Arthur moving to the Arabian and fending off another bite. “Goodness me, she’s a spirited one. You only have a week with her, isn’t that right?”
“Yeah, the owner is trying to sell her to some rich snob in Saint Denis. She ain’t so bad, just pent up. I figure I’ll run her up and down these mountain trails. That’ll get her worn out real quick. Easy hundred and fifty bucks.”
“Well, we could certainly use the money.”
“Oh, don’t you start talking about properties again Al, I ain’t in the mood.” He mounted, blowing out a breath and running a hand down the mare’s neck.
Albert raised his hands in surrender, “I wasn’t proposing anything, just making a remark. In any case, we should probably get moving if we want these munchkins to get to school on time.”
“I ain’t a munchkin!” Eddie declared from behind.
“Of course you ain’t,” Arthur teased, nudging his horse forward, “you’re a squirt.”
“I am not! I’m ten years old now! I’m almost a grown-up!” Eddie crossed his arms.
Arthur tossed him a teasing smile, “I’m just ruffling your feathers there, Eddie. You are getting bigger, no denying that.”
As the family walked to the main trail, Glen rode up alongside Arthur, “Pa, do you think, um…could we go on a ride sometime? Just the two of us?”
Arthur reached over to ruffle his dark hair, “Sure Glen, maybe this weekend. Provided you can work me into your busy schedule. Any sleepovers at the Marston’s coming up?” Since their meeting that summer, the kids had exchanged several weekend visits, giving them some playtime with their peers, and the adults some much needed alone time.
“No sir, I don’t have any plans.”
“Can I come!?” Eddie piped up behind them.
Glen looked stricken, and cast his eyes down. Arthur gave him a soft smile, then glanced back at the 10-year-old, “Sorry Eddie, maybe next time. This’ll just be me and Glen.”
The teen looked up, a happy smile brightening his face, “You mean it Pa?”
Arthur ruffled his hair again, “Sure.”
Eddie huffed and crossed his arms, “Well, maybe I’ll go to Uncle John’s, just ME.” He stuck out his tongue.
Albert gave him a stern look from the corner of his eye, “Eddie, don’t be contrary.”
Eddie looked down and pouted, “Sorry Dad.”
Arthur smiled back at him, “Don’t you worry Eddie, you and I will have lots of time to spend together once the winter break starts. So start coming up with things you want to do.”
Eddie grinned and bounced with excitement, “Ok Pa!”
At the main path they split up, Albert and the boys heading south towards Strawberry, and Arthur turning north into the mountain foothills. He pushed the Arab into a steady trot, enduring a few crow hops and other attempts to unseat him. With reassurance after a few small spooks and jumps, her mind focused on the job, earning ample praise from her rider. Holding light contact, he let her stretch her neck down and use her back to climb up and down the steep hills.
It was a little past mid-morning when the first drops fell. Arthur pulled the mare to a halt and looked up, letting out an unhappy grunt, “Dammit, looks like I’m out five bucks.” He patted her neck, then pulled his satchel off, looping it around the horn. He shrugged out of his light jacket and tied it behind the saddle, then reached down to pull the heavier, waxed coat from his saddlebag.
He was in the air before he processed the rabbit shooting out from the underbrush, the mare beneath him shying sideways and giving a mighty buck, before turning and sprinting back the way they came. He didn’t have long to dwell on that fact however, for half a second later he slammed into the ground.
And then he was rolling.
Tumbling down the steep hillside picking up speed, striking rocks and branches, boulders and stumps. It was dizzying, disorienting; he couldn’t keep track of where the sky was and the ground, the two swirling and blending together into a chaotic and confounding brown. The dust choked his lungs, the brush cut his skin, the noise of the rocks striking and sliding hammered into his ears.
He finally crashed into a thick tree, the tumult stopping with a white flash of intense pain.
And then, nothing.
Cold, fat raindrops against his face slowly brought him round. He groaned, struggling to open his eyes. Then his nose caught the acrid scent of bile, and he finally managed to pry his lids up to see the small pile of vomit in front of his face. He groaned again, trying to get his limbs under him to push away from the sight. His arms gave out beneath him, and he fell with a cough, a sharp pain stabbing his side. He reached down and pushed gently against his ribs, the shift in them nearly causing him to black out again and add to the puddle of sick.
With another groan he pushed himself onto his hands and knees, then flopped onto his behind, hugging an arm to the offending side. He took a moment to catch his breath and blink through a wave of dizziness. “You really done it this time, Morgan,” he chastised himself. Breathing shallow and quick through the pain, he heaved himself onto his feet, reaching out to the villainous tree as his knees nearly gave out. His eyes followed the hill a little ways further down, where it disappeared into the sheer drop of a very deep canyon.
Ok, maybe the tree wasn’t so bad.
He turned away from the sight, taking in the steep incline he would now have to climb. He shook his limbs out, checking for more injuries. Quite a few bruises, some already-clotting cuts, including a rather tender one across his temple, but that seemed the extent of it. Ok. He blew a breath out, grimacing at the stab in his side, and started upwards, slipping in the mud.
When he finally got back onto the path, he looked around. The Arabian was long gone, and no other person could be seen. Completely desolate. “Part of living in the mountains, I guess,” he mumbled to himself. He sighed, shaking his head, and started walking, hugging himself to keep the warmth from escaping his wet clothes.
After a few hours of careful trekking, so as not to shift the broken ribs, his heart leapt at the sound of hooves coming up the path behind him. He waited for the person to come into view, then called out, “Hey, mister, can you stop a minute?”
The man glared as he passed, “Outta my face.”
Desperately Arthur called out again, “I just need some help! Stop!”
The man spurred his horse into a canter, and then was gone. Arthur kicked the ground. “Real friendly folk ‘round here,” he spat. Another reality of mountain living, he reckoned: folks left each other alone, for better or worse. He kept walking.
What was meant to be a conditioning ride for the horse turned into an exhausting ordeal for him. Another few hours of hiking the steep terrain, and he was footsore and stumbling on shaking legs, the fall down the hill having stolen most of his strength to begin with. The rain hadn’t let up once, and now that the sun was sinking behind the mountains, the cool air was turning it to sleet. It gathered on his hair and shoulders, the heavy, sodden clothing sticking to his skin and weighing him down even more.
Finally he crested the hill overlooking Cattail Pond, his face and extremities numb and his body shaking violently. He saw a lantern light down below, and could just make out Albert’s frantic voice calling for him.
“Arthur! Arthur, where are you!?”
Arthur took as deep a breath as he could, opening his mouth and trying to call out around his chattering teeth. “A-A…,” he blew out a breath, and tried again, “A-A…A-Al! I-Immm h-h-here!” He stumbled forward again as Albert turned to him and raced up the hill.
“Arthur! Good heavens, you’re frozen!” He took his coat off and draped it over the shivering man’s back, pulling an arm around his shoulders to help him down the hill. “Whatever happened, love? We came home and the Arabian was standing in the yard, still tacked, and with your satchel and coat no less.”
Arthur grunted, “S-S-She s-spooked on me. I w-w-wasn’t p-paying attention and got thrown down a h-hill. B-busted my ribs up p-pretty good.”
Albert let out a worried click of the tongue, “And you’re soaked to the bone. Oh dear, oh my darling, we’ll get you taken care of, don’t you worry. A warm fire, dry clothes, some hot tea, you’ll be good as new, you’ll see. Everything will be alright.”
Arthur let out a shivering chuckle, “C-c-course it will, l-l-love, I a-a-ain’t w-worried.”
Glen was walking from the stable when Albert and Arthur entered the yard. “Pa! Dad, is he ok? What happened?”
“He’ll be alright Glen, just had a tumble. Get the door for us, would you please?” Albert repositioned Arthur’s arm across his shoulder as Glen moved to comply. “Did you get the horses taken care of?”
“Yes sir, they’re all set for the night.” He moved aside as the two men entered the small living space.
“Thank you son. Would you please go get some firewood and stoke the flames?” Albert asked as he helped Arthur onto the couch.
The teen nodded and moved back outside. Hearing the commotion, Eddie walked in from his room. “What’s going on? Pa, are you ok?” He moved towards the shivering man, but Albert stopped him.
“Eddie, will you please put the kettle on the fire? Fill it all the way if you can. And then go and get some towels for me?” Albert asked gently while starting to peel off the drenched clothing.
“Yes sir,” the boy responded dutifully, his gaze lingering on Arthur.
Arthur tried to reassure the boy, “I-I’mm alright, s-son. D-don’t chu b-be s-s-scared, alright-t-t?”
Eddie nodded, moving to the sink to pump water, “I ain’t scared, Pa. Only babies get scared, and I’m ten now.”
Arthur chuffed out a chuckle, “Y-you a b-brave kid, n-no doubt.”
After a few minutes, Glen came back inside with an armful of firewood as Eddie left the room to get towels. He started building the fire up, watching Arthur from the corner of his eye.
“T-that Arabian give you any t-trouble, Glen?” Arthur asked, his shivers finally abating. He was stripped down to his union suit, Albert still working the buttons.
Glen jumped a bit, not aware he was being observed. “Um, a little. She tried to nip me a few times, but I got after her.”
Arthur nodded and hummed, “You’re doing r-real good with them horses, Glen. I’m p-proud of you.”
Glen beamed at the praise, “Thanks Pa. Dad, can I do anything else?”
Eddie came back into the room, handing the towels over. Albert took them, thanking the boy, then looked to Glen. “Perhaps you can go find some dry clothes for Arthur? And then look after Eddie until we get sorted, alright?”
“Yes sir.” He moved towards Arthur and Albert’s room.
“I don’t need looking after!” Eddie exclaimed. “I can help more, what else can I do, Dad?”
Albert smiled from where he was toweling Arthur’s hair, “Mind your brother, Eddie, please. You’ve already been a big help, so thank you.”
“Ok sir,” Eddie replied dully, following after Glen.
Albert and Arthur shared a smile, chuckling at the kids' antics. Albert stood, handing his towel over for Arthur to continue, and pulled the kettle off the fire. “What would you like, darling? Ginger and honey?”
“That sounds great, Al.” Arthur winced as he brushed over his ribs. He sighed, “These ribs are gonna put me out for a while. Things might get tight around here.”
Albert came back in and handed him a mug, then resumed the drying process. He smiled softly, “We’ll manage. We’ve been in tight spots before.”
“Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to carry all that burden-”
“Arthur,” he interrupted, pausing his ministrations and clasping the man’s hand, “‘for better or worse’, hmm? We’re in this together, my love. We might not have any paper to make it legally binding, but we’ve made commitments to each other, have we not?” He looked at Arthur with such love that the blond was tempted to turn and see if someone was standing behind him, for surely that much love was not meant for him. “I’ll carry you when you can’t walk, as I know you’d do for me. Our family’s security does not fall wholly on your shoulders. Let us take care of you, alright?”
Arthur fidgeted under the intense gaze, looking to his lap. He nodded, the blossoming warmth inside him choking him up.
Albert nodded and stood, “Right then. I’m going to grab the first aid kit and clean up some of these cuts. You sip that tea and get warm. And get changed when Glen comes back. Ah, speak of the devil.”
Glen had come back in holding a bundle of clothes, Eddie on his heels. “Sorry we took so long. Eddie was, um…. Helping.” He tweaked his mouth in annoyance. “I have your white union suit Pa, and your sleep clothes.”
“Thanks Glen,” Arthur reached to take the bundle, gasping and grimacing at the pain in his side.
“Pa?” Glen asked anxiously.
Arthur breathed through the pain, painting a tight smile on his face, “I’ll be alright, son, it ain’t the first time I broke a rib. They hurt like a bastard though, so I'd advise against trying it.”
Glen smiled and huffed, “Noted.” He looked to Albert, who was coming back over with a small kit in his hands, “Dad, Eddie and I are going to go read in our room now, is that alright? Do you need anything else?”
“Thank you Glen, we’ll be fine for now. I appreciate you and your brother’s help.”
Glen nodded, “Ok sir. Come on Eddie.” He started moving to their room, waving at the boy to follow.
Eddie hesitated, then turned and ran to Arthur, leaning over to kiss his cheek, “Feel better, Pa.” He smiled, then ran after Glen.
The warmth Arthur felt before overflowed then, and he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. Albert knelt in front of him, sharing the look. “We have a wonderful family, wouldn’t you say Arthur?” he asked quietly.
Arthur gasped, this time from the tears of joy threatening to spill, “Yeah, we sure do.”