Seven Years Later

The cool breeze blew through the Heartlands area, the beautiful green grass swaying back and forth with the direction of the wind. Deers and Buffalos roaming the area as a wagon rides along the dirt road.

In the back of the wagon were three kids, two girls and one boy, sitting there with a golden Labrador laying down next to them. The oldest child, Annebeth, was reading a book while her two younger siblings, five year old Eleanor and seven year old Alistair, were playing with these toys they were able to keep while the two adults, Arthur and (y/n), were in the front seats steering the wagon as the lone horse leads the way to the town of Valentine.

"I think we need to stop here and get some supplies, Arthur. We're getting kinda low on food." (Y/n) tells Arthur. "I know. We also probably need to take in some jobs." He said. "So, stay here in Valentine for a few days and then be on our way again?" (Y/n) asked him. "I reckon...so you better behave." Arthur teased her. "I feel like I should be saying that to you." (Y/n) said, smirking, and he laughs. "You're probably right." He said as they pass the train station and enter Valentine.

"God, this place brings back memories." (Y/n) said as she looks around the old familiar town. "Good? Or bad?" Arthur asked her. "Bit of both." (Y/n) said as they turn a corner and started to come down the main street of Valentine, which hadn't changed much except with a few new buildings. 

They passed by a saloon when a man stumbles out and then a second men storms out and charges at the first man. "You sonuvabitch!" The second man growled and they start to fight. The kids recoiled at this as (y/n) shakes her head then turns to Arthur. "Bet that brings back memories, doesn't it?" She asked him as she gestures to the fighting men with her head.
Arthur chuckles in response. “Sure does, darlin.” He replied. "Though, I don't miss it very much."

(Y/n) rolls her eyes at him. "Oh I'm sure you miss showing off how much of a tough guy you are." She teased and he chuckles. "What does that mean?" Alistair asked her. "Well, your father sometimes would get into fights with other people a few years back." (Y/n) said and Arthur turns to her. 

"Hey, wasn't my fault." He said, defensively. “Yeah, sometimes they were bad people.” (y/n) said as they come up at the end of the road and Arthur pulls the reigns, making the horse stop. "Okay then...I'm gonna see if there's any jobs I can take." Arthur said and (y/n) nods. "Alright...we still got a bit of money, I'll buy some groceries." She said and they start to dismount the wagon.

"Alright, my darlings, let's walk around for a bit." (Y/n) tells her children and her and Arthur go to the back of the wagon and help the kids down while the Labrador jumps down.

Arthur walks up to (y/n), leans in and gives her a loving kiss. Alistair sticks his tongue out in disgust while Eleanor giggles and Annebeth rolls her eyes but smiles at this. The couple break the kiss before Arthur mutters. "Be careful." (Y/n) nods then whispers. "Of course." Then she leads the kids and the Labrador, Dixon, towards the general store while Arthur starts to walk around town.

Eventually he walks towards the Sheriff office and remembered that they usually asked for bounty hunters so he enters inside and both Sheriff and Deputy look up at him. "Well, looky here. Maybe this is our man." The Sheriff said as he eyes Arthur. "You a bounty hunter, mister?" The young Deputy asked as he stands up from his chair. "Maybe...it depends." Arthur replied.

"Well, I'm guessing you ain't here to pass the day...turn yourself in...or discuss the finer points of country law. Then I don't need to know much more than that...til I got a reason to." The Sheriff said and Arthur smirks a bit. "Alright..." he said and the Sheriff takes in a deep breath as he stands back up.

"You smell that? This here's livestock town, mister...attracts delinquents and reprobates like flies. Now I'm not a feller to pass a quick judgment...but I've been around long enough to know...you don't hire a Saint to catch a sinner." said the Sheriff and Arthur lowers his head and smiles to himself.

"You bring me what I need...and I'll pay you well...and I won't ask questions." The Sheriff assured and Arthur looks at him, this was all Arthur needed to hear. As long as they didn't ask questions and paid him, he and his family would be safe. He didn't know if the Pinkertons were still looking for him or just thought he was dead, but he knew he still needed to keep a low profile.

"So...what is it you need?" Arthur asked the Sheriff. "Why don't you have a look at that poster...on that wall over there." the Sheriff said as he gestures to his board behind Arthur. The former outlaw turns and sees a wanted poster for a man named Benedict Allbright.

"He's a low down huckster. He's been poisoning folks with his miracle cure...from here to Annesburg. Killed more than Landon Ricketts without even pulling a trigger. Get some kind of sick satisfaction out of it." The Deputy said as Arthur takes down the poster and examines it.

The photo showed an older man with a top hat on and a three piece suit, the reward was $50.

"The feller over at the saloon says...he thought he saw him by the gorge...straight north of here." The Sheriff said then he stares, intently, at Arthur. "You think you can bring him in? The money's good. I need him alive though. I wanna make sure the women he widowed...get compensated before he swings." He said and Arthur folds up the poster and tucks it into his satchel. "I'll see what I can do." He said. "Well good luck to you." The Sheriff said and Arthur walks out of the office.

He heads over to the wagon when (y/n) and the kids come out of the store. "Did you find anything?" (Y/n) asked him as she walks up to Arthur. "Yeah, got a bounty hunting job." Arthur replied and (y/n) furrows her brow in worry and confusion. "Arthur, you sure about that?" She asked. "He said he won't ask questions and he pays well. So we should be safe for awhile." He said and (y/n) thinks for a moment at this then gives a small nod. 

"Well, if you're sure about it." She said and he nods. "So...I'm guessing you're gonna need the horse." (Y/n) said as she nods towards the horse that was hitched to their wagon. "Yeah...I think you and the kids should stay there at the hotel and I'll be back as soon as I can." He said and (y/n) nods.

They get the wagon parked next to the hotel then Arthur gets the wagon off of the horse then heads off to find the bounty while (y/n) heads into the hotel, with the kids and Dixon.

Arthur makes it to the gorge and starts to look around for Benedict. He makes it up to a cliff when he found a horse and a man sitting by a campfire. "What we got here?" He mutters as he gets closer. 

"Are you Benedict Allbright?" Arthur asked the man, who was startled as he stands up. "No, sir..." the man replied and Arthur eyes him before he hums a bit. "You kinda look like him...and I was told he'd be up here." Arthur said. "No...not me, sir." The man said but he did seemed frighten and nervous. Then again, Arthur was a big guy and he could intimidate any man just by walking into a room.

"It's because...I wanna buy some medicine..." Arthur lied as he walks up to the man. "And...I heard...I heard good things. I'll pay...in gold...i-if you can help me find him." Arthur said, doing his best to sound desperate. The man seemed to relax a bit at the mention of gold but he still kept his guard up as he eyes Arthur.

"It's just...my daughter's real sick." Arthur said and the man, Benedict, fully relaxes and smiles. "Oh, well if that's the case...if it's for a sick little girl...I'd be happy to help." Benedict said and he saunters over to his bag while Arthur smiles. "I'm a healer you know...a medical man. Finest medicine in the state." Benedict said as he pulls out the bottle of medicine, walks over to Arthur and hands him the bottle.

Arthur chuckles then tosses the bottle aside, down towards the river below them. Benedict looks towards the thrown bottle, confused, and turns back only to see Arthur aiming his gun at him. "Game's over, mister. Put your hands up...I'm taking you in." Arthur said as he walks over to Benedict's bag, still keeping his gun trained on him, and looks it over.

"Taking me in? What for?" Benedict asked, confused. "Apparently that stuff you're pushing is killing folk...and there's a price on your head. I don't know, it ain't my business." Arthur said as he walks back towards Benedict. "Come on, partner, that's crap. I'm a healer." Benedict said as he takes a step towards Arthur but Arthur holds his gun up and the medical man steps back.

"I've got an aura...I speak to spirits...I'm a scientist. Folks get real angry for no good reason...this...this is a mistake." Benedict said as he lowers his hands a bit and looks down to see he is close to the edge of the cliff.

"Keep your hands up, buddy...they only want you for questioning..." Arthur said as he reaches out and grabs Benedict's gun, disarming him, and tossed the gun aside. "I have to insist this is a mistake." Benedict said. "Don't be a fool." Arthur said as he takes a step forward, which made Benedict take a step back and he starts to fall.

Quickly, Arthur grabs the back collar of Benedict's shirt collar and pulls him back up. Benedict laughs once he was back on solid ground and turns to Arthur. "You saved me..." Benedict said, laughing. "Come on, buddy, let's make this easy." Arthur said as he goes to grab Benedict but the medicine man backs away.

"You're taking me in?" He asked, again, sounding shocked. "It's just for questioning." Arthur said as he goes towards him but Benedict goes around him. "You saved my life." He said to Arthur as if that makes a difference. "Ain't we had enough drama?" Arthur said as he walks towards him again but Benedict goes towards the ledge.

"I-I'd be better off jumping." He said and he runs to the ledge but stops when Arthur yells at him. He turns and Arthur holds a hand out to him. "They expressly told me not to kill you." Arthur said. "This is about you?" Benedict asked and Arthur sighs, annoyed, as he looks down then looks back at Benedict. "Don't jump..." he said. "O-Or what? You can't shoot me." Benedict said as Arthur starts to run towards him but he makes a slight move and Arthur stops. 

Arthur sighs and holsters his gun and holds his hands up. "Please." Arthur said. "I'll take my chances." Benedict said and he turns towards the cliff. "Come here!" Arthur growls but Benedict jumps. "Bye, friend!" He yells as he plummets down to the river below and Arthur stops himself from falling in.

Below he could see that Benedict was still alive as he was flailing in the water. "I really do not like you." Arthur growled and he runs towards his horse, mounts it and takes off down the hill and follows the river to get close to Benedict, who was screaming out for help.

Eventually, Arthur was able to throw a lasso at Benedict and pulls him to shore. Once he got to shore, Arthur begins to hogtie him. "Who made you God, friend? Who made you the judge?" Benedict asked before Arthur punches him across the face, letting out some frustration. Arthur then picks him up and places him on his horse. He mounts up his horse and takes off back to Valentine.

"Sir, this isn't necessary. I'm a medical man, a healer!" Benedict shouts as Arthur pulls up to the Sheriff's office. "It's all just a big mistake. I don't feel very well." Benedict shouts again as Arthur removes him off of his horse and starts to carry him. "I told you to shut up." Arthur growls as he enters the office, only to see the Sheriff and a woman sitting inside.

The Sheriff jumps once he sees Arthur coming in, carrying Benedict. "Oh, my Lord...I wasn't expecting you back so soon." The Sheriff said to Arthur then he turns to the woman. "Uh, Mrs. Calthrope was, uh...was just leaving." The Sheriff said, sounding nervous like he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do.

"Sure...where you want him?" Arthur asked him, gestures to Benedict. "Cell in the back." He said and Arthur heads to the cells then drops Benedict down on the ground. "There's been some terrible mistake. I never did it...any of it." Benedict exclaims. "I thought I told you to shut up, partner." Arthur said as he cuts the binds around Benedict's legs then pulls him up.

Benedict was about to protest but Arthur talks over him. "But nothing! Shut up and err....good luck!" Arthur said as he shoves him into the cell and closes the door. "It's been real fun." Arthur said and he walks away. "You ain't much of a man. If you ask folks for forgiveness you remember this, partner." Benedict shouts but Arthur ignores him and goes to the Sheriff.

"Now, Sheriff...how much was you offering?" Arthur asked him. "Fifty dollars....here." the Sheriff said as he pulls out the bills from his pocket and hands it to Arthur. "Thank you." He said then he turns to Mrs Calthrope. "Madam." He said and he walks out of office.

After talking to the hotel clerk on which room his family's in, Arthur made his way upstairs and to the room they were staying in. He opens the door and gives a genuine soft smile once he sees his family. Annebeth was sitting in a chair, reading a book, Alistair was playing with Dixon and Eleanor was drawing. (Y/n) was sitting on the bed and sewing up a patch on Alistair's jacket when she looks up and sees Arthur.

The kids also look up and see Arthur and they smile at his return. "Daddy!" Alistair and Eleanor exclaimed as they run towards him. Arthur kneels down and holds his arms out as the two kids go and embrace him. He hugs them back as (y/n) smiles at this.

"Welcome back. How did the job go?" She asked Arthur as he pulls out of the kids embrace and stands up. "Well, he did give me a few problems but...I got him. Made fifty dollars." Arthur said as he holds up the cash to her. "Good..." she said as he hands her the cash. She accepts it then goes to one of the bags and pulls out a lockbox then places the cash inside of it.

Later that day, (y/n) had put the kids to bed in the second room, she had rented for them, and kissed them goodnight. She pats the top of Dixon's head and he lays down near the bed, almost like protecting the kids, while (y/n) heads out of the room and towards the room her and Arthur shared.
She looks over to see Arthur counting out the money in the lockbox, sitting on the bed.

"So, how are we doing?" She asked him as she goes to sit next to him. "Well...I'd say...if we keep working...in a few months we should be able to get a home..." Arthur said and (y/n) chuckles a bit at this.

"So, in other words, we need more money..." she said and Arthur scoffs a bit at this then slightly shakes his head. "Yeah..." he mutters and (y/n) sighs. "I just wish that whole gold business up north went better." She said and Arthur nods. "Yeah...I guess we came in too late to get the gold." said Arthur as he shuts the lockbox, stands up and puts it away.

"Seems to be our luck..." she remarks and Arthur chuckles. "As long as we keep our heads low, we should be good." He said as he sits back down on the bed. 

"Can you just picture it, Arthur? Our own home...no more running...no more hiding...we could add a barn and raise chickens, cows and horses...the house would be big enough to hold five of us..." she said, dreamily. "Or more..." he said and she turns to him, shocked and disbelieving. "Arthur Morgan, are you suggesting more kids?" She asked him, almost laughing. Arthur shrugs. "Why not?" He said.

(Y/n) giggles as she eyes him a bit. "You're wanting to build your own gang, don'tcha?" She asked, jokingly, and he turns to her before he scoots closer to her. "Maybe..." he said, smiling, then he caresses her cheek with his right hand as the two look into each other's eyes, lovingly.

Arthur leans and kisses her, she returns the same. It starts out sweet and loving but then it turns a bit heated as they deepen the kiss. (Y/n), slowly, wraps her arms around his neck as he places his hands on her waist. They break the kiss to catch their breathes before Arthur pushes (y/n) down on the bed then gets on top of her.

They continue to kiss, passionately, for a few moments then Arthur starts to kiss (y/n)'s jawline then down her neck. "Arthur..." (y/n) whispered, in a soft desperate voice, and she could feel his smirk as he continues to attack her neck.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and the couple stops and looks towards it. "Mommy...Daddy?" Eleanor's voice squeaked out from the other side. She sounded scared. The couple, quickly, sit up and Arthur goes to the door and opens it, revealing Eleanor.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Arthur asked her as the little girl rubs her eyes. "I-I had a b-bad dream...and I-I got s-scared...can I sleep here with you?" Eleanor asked, in a frighten tone. Arthur and (y/n) share a quick look before (y/n) turns to her young daughter. 

"Of course, honey. C'mere." She said and the little girl runs to her mother's open arms. Arthur smiles at this as he shuts the door and (y/n) hugs their daughter, comforting. They get ready for bed and Eleanor sleeps in the space between the two and they share one more kiss before they say goodnight and fall asleep.