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Arthur rode swiftly through the open fields of West Elizabeth, the afternoon sun sinking low against the horizon. The wind against his skin, the golden light in his eyes—it all filled him with a quiet sense of calm. Out here, away from the gripping hand of civilization, he could breathe. The open land gave him hope, hope that he could hold onto this feeling of freedom forever. Riding far and fast was his escape.
Deer skipped alongside him, their movements effortless, while cattle grazed undisturbed as he passed on by. It was a glimpse of the world as it once was, before things began to change. Then, in the distance, a flash of white caught his eye—a dress, stark against the sun-drenched field. Beneath the sprawling limbs of an old oak tree, you lay still, having drifted to sleep while resting from your own long ride.
Arthur slowed his horse down, reining it in as he drew closer. Something about the scene held him in place, a pull he knew well. Your horse was hitched nearby, your body slumped gently against the tree’s trunk. The sight of you— your hair loosely framing your soft features, your hands resting delicately, your chest rising and falling in the rhythm of slumber—stirred a familiar kind of nostalgia within him.
Whenever he felt this way, there was only one thing to do.
He reached into his satchel, pulling out his journal and pencil. Dismounting his horse and taking a seat in the field, he began to sketch the scene before him, his hand moved instinctively. He started with the mighty old oak tree and the mountain range behind you, then worked his way to the smallest details—the strands of hair caught in the breeze, the way the afternoon light kissed your gentle skin.
And for a little while, Arthur was able to forget the weight of the world closing in on him.
When he was satisfied enough, he carefully tore the page from his journal. He stood, walking closer to you and being mindful not to make any noise. Your horse gave a soft neigh at his approach, and he offered a quiet hush, resting a hand briefly on its neck before kneeling beside you. He placed the torn out paper beside you.
For a moment, he simply stood there, watching the way the fading sunlight draped across your skin, the peaceful rise and fall of your breath. A quiet nostalgia settled in his chest, a feeling he didn’t quite have a name for.
Tipping his hat toward you, he turned back to his horse. “Let’s go, girl,” he murmured, swinging into the saddle. With a click of his tongue, he rode off into the golden horizon.
As the hoofbeats faded into the distance, you began to stir. Blinking against the sun’s light, you sat up, wondering how long you had napped for. Your horse gave a neigh to where the hoofbeats had continued to fade. You turned just in time to see the figure disappear into the setting sun.
Your brows furrowed, but you turned your attention back to yourself, looking down beside you and the worn paper. Picking it up, you traced the lines— it was you, sleeping peacefully under the oak tree. The sketch was rushed, yet delicately detailed. The details were soft yet very intentional, every shadow, every strand of hair etched with a quiet care.
At the bottom of the page, in rough cursive handwriting, a signature: A. Morgan
A smile played at your lips as you read the name; whoever this was, he had seen you, truly seen you in a way that no one had before.
You tucked the page into your satchel carefully and stood. Determined to find this mysterious artist, you mounted your horse and trotted down the path the stranger had taken.
When you finally reached Valentine, you entered the bar at the center of the small town, asking the barkeep if he knew anyone with the last name Morgan.
“Morgan, huh?” The barkeep scratched the stubble on his chin, “Yeah, I seen him ‘round. He’s passed by here before, not sure where he is now though.” He shrugged.
You sighed, feeling slightly defeated you took back the paper from his hand. Arthur Morgan. You thought as you traced over the signature. At least you had a name.
As you stepped out of the saloon, the cool night air brushed against your skin. With the sun gone and the moon out, the streets of Valentine had grown much quieter, only the muffled noises from the saloon filling the air. With the sketch in hand, you almost began to walk when movement from the corner of your vision caught your eye.
There, just outside the general store sat a man on a worn wooden bench, one leg stretched out, the other bent as he leaned forward, using the light from the lamppost to look down at his journal. He was writing quickly, focused on jotting down his thoughts.
“Arthur Morgan?” You asked, your voice steady.
He looked up from his journal, “That depends. Who’s ask—” Before he could finish, a wave of realization came over him. His face softened as he came to recognize you: the woman from the field. He sat up in his seat, looking up at you with a hint of surprise in his gaze.
You held out the sketch to him, “You draw this?”
Arthur’s gaze dropped to the sketch in your hand, rubbing the back of his neck before letting out a soft chuckle. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he murmured softly.
“Didn’t think you’d come trackin’ me down over it,” he continued, voice low.
You shrugged, silently staring back down at the sketch and wishing you had used the ride over here to think about what to say to him. In all honesty you weren’t sure why you’d tracked him down either, “Why’d you draw it?”
“You ever see somethin’ that just... sticks with you?” He glanced up at you, your eyes finally connecting. His eyes were tired, but not in a way that sleep could fix; like he was carrying more weight than he cared to admit. Then, Arthur exhaled through his nose and finished, “That was one of those moments.”
“Well thank you,” You spoke, taking the seat beside him on the wooden bench, “for the drawing.”
Arthur gave a nod, unsure how to respond to your gratitude. No one had ever intentionally sought him out for something like this before. He leaned back in his seat beside you, inhaling deeply, letting the quiet settle between you. For the first time, he wasn’t thinking about where to run off to or the troubles waiting for him back at camp. Instead, he just sat there, grounded in the present—alongside someone worth slowing down for.