#some dam near wallace falls

[crackers4jenn]

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[amorgansgal]

A Good Man Within, A Bad Woman Without - Fall Part 1

An AU Fanfiction where Mary is the outlaw and Arthur is a happy, himbo rancher. VDL Gang never happened. Other chapters can be found here and you can read the whole thing on AO3.

Warnings: Mild depiction of injury.

A harvest moon rose overhead, the dim golden orb hung in the night sky, as Mary rode furiously down the road that cut between the Owanjila Dam and the Upper Montana River. She turned left sharply and Shadow whinnied, the mud under his hooves spraying up and doubtless spattering Mary’s long skirt. What she wouldn’t have given to be wearing her usual pants and shirt, but the plan had required more womanly garb.

Despite the speed at which Shadow was galloping, she could still hear the lawmen behind her crossing the river. She needed to get off the road. It would be a great risk, the dark shadowy forest ahead promised branches that would whip across her face or even a panther lurking in the undergrowth. But as another shot came from behind her, Mary made her decision.

She pushed Shadow onwards, off the path, and into the dense woodland. She lowered herself and tried to keep her wits about her as they plunged through the darkness. Thorny bushes caught on her clothes, an owl hooted overhead and a fox scurried away with a yelp. But as they continued their desperate ride, Mary could hear the voices of the lawmen growing fainter and fainter, their confused shouts and the neighs of horses disappearing behind her.

She eventually slowed Shadow down when she felt she was no longer being pursued. As they trotted forwards, they abruptly came out onto an open, grassy meadow. In the distance, Mary could make out the silvery line of a glimmering stream. She breathed in slowly, enjoying the relative peace. The long-stemmed, purple flowers, that were dotted throughout the meadow, bowed their heads in the breeze.

She frowned and tilted her head slightly, as Shadow lowered his to crop the grass. She recognised this place. She allowed Shadow to graze for a moment longer, then kicked him into a walk, thinking she would let him drink a little from the stream before they continued on their way. Her ankle ached dully.

As they approached the stream, she could see the light of a house or ranch twinkling glowing between the trees. She felt that the light was calling to her, the promising welcome of home and hearth. Perhaps a warm cottage with a roaring fire, a decent cup of tea and a good book. Somewhere she could call her own, somewhere with a family, love, protection. But it was nonsensical, wishful thinking that would get her killed. She shook her head to dismiss the thoughts.

She knew vaguely that Wallace Station was near here, if she could find that then she could make her way along the path that went towards Cumberland Falls and led up to Cattail Pond. There was an abandoned shack there, so hopefully she could stop there for the night, then head onwards to Annesburgh. She could sell the gold bars she had picked up, then disappear into the crowd with enough money in her pocket to last for some time.

She was about to head down the road, when with horror she heard voices and horse hooves ahead of her. She first tried to convince herself it would just be travellers, but who the hell would be travelling so late at night? As she came closer to them, she caught snatches of conversation.

‘Do you think she’s come this-?’

‘Didn’t hear a horse, so I think-’

How the hell had they got in front of her? She instantly regretted allowing Shadow the opportunity to eat and drink, but she hadn’t banked on a hidden pathway or route that must have cut through the mountains to the other side. She quickly pulled Shadow away into the trees, then dismounted, hurrying through the foliage. Though the ache in her ankle was growing more fiercely and she looked down wondering if she had twisted it when rushing to leave the bank. Perhaps she could wait for them to pass or travel back the way she had come. But what if they had left some of the lawmen behind to catch her unaware. She cursed under her breath.

The sense of familiarity about the place did not leave her, until she headed up the hill and spotted the path that twisted through the trees. This was Arthur’s place! Arthur’s ranch slowly appeared from the darkness. The lantern by the barn door was still lit and moving in the wind, but the rest of the ranch house was dark, the shutters closed over the window. Unlike last time the enclosed paddock was filled with cows, most apparently sleeping, though some shuffled about.

She quickly made her way over to the barn, extinguishing the lantern outside and hoped that the lawmen hadn’t spotted it from the road as she had done. She pulled open the door and crept inside, before turning around and peering through a crack in the barn door. It was difficult to make out the road or any sign of movement in the trees, but after a long wait she was satisfied that no one was coming.

She went to sit down on a hay bale, but a sharp agonising pain tore through her ankle. Mary gasped, she managed to hobble over to the table and sit herself on it. She began to pull her boot off, but the intense pain made her press her lips tightly together, close her eyes and exhale through her nose. Presumably the adrenaline rush had stopped her from feeling it so badly, but now it had made itself known.

She didn’t know what to do. Wait here until dawn, then try to mount Shadow once more, or hobble her way up to the house and beg Arthur for help. She was still debating what to do, when she heard heavy footsteps making their way down the path towards the barn. Her heart began to race and she waited to see if the footsteps would go past the barn. But they only came closer. Mary pulled her pistol from her gun belt and placed it behind her back.

The barn door was pushed open and a bright light from a lantern momentarily blinded her. She blinked several times and felt a flood of relief rush through her on hearing a familiar, warm chuckle.

‘Well, Miss Gillis, didn’ expect to see you here or at this hour.’

Arthur placed the lantern on a hook, then dug his thumbs into the loops of his belt. Mary felt herself instinctively press her legs together. The casual stance he took, putting his weight on his left foot and gazing at her warmly, made a sharp thrill rush through her. He didn’t even look remotely surprised or concerned about her sudden appearance in his barn.

‘I’m sorry, I was riding and I…’ How to explain how she had hurt her leg. ‘Shadow threw me when he saw a snake, and I wound up trailing after him, and then I caught my foot in a burrow and I think I’ve sprained my ankle. This was the nearest place…’ she trailed off lamely, there was no way in hell he was going to believe her.

He frowned in puzzlement, then approached and tapped his hand on the table, indicating for her to sit on it. She did so and was almost alarmed when Arthur went to his knees in front of her.

‘Mr Morgan…’

‘Which foot is it?’ he asked, looking up at her and making a warm flush creep to her cheeks. Was it because he was such a strong, rough looking kind of man that made her feel dizzy at the thought of him submitting to her? Quite literally bringing him to his knees.

‘My right,’ she managed to finally say.

His fingers quickly loosened all the laces of her boots and then gently began to remove it from her foot. Even with his care and attention, she still let out a sharp hiss of pain. Arthur stopped as soon as she did.

‘You alrigh’?’ he asked softly.

She nodded, pressing her lips tightly together and biting her cheek hard to stop herself from making any noise. Arthur managed to remove her boot, then inspected her foot. She could scarce believe his big, rough hands could be so tender and careful with her.

‘Yer ankle does look swollen,” he mused, then he carefully released it and got up from his haunches. He pursed his lips momentarily, before passing Mary her boot. She took it from him and was about to pull it back on, but Arthur easily swept her into his arms.

‘Arthur!’ she exclaimed, one arm clinging to his shoulders, her other hand holding tightly onto her boot.

‘What? You goin’ to walk up to the house?’

She couldn’t believe the man could make her blush and stammer like a complete fool. ‘Well… I…’

‘Not having you sleep in the barn, not when yer hurt. I’ll get Charles to put Shadow away in the stables and then I’ll ride into Strawberry and get the doctor.’

She froze in his arms, scared that if he called on the doctor then her lie would not be so readily swallowed. ‘There’s really no need, I’m sure it’s just sprained.’

‘Regardless, want it checked out properly.’

‘Then can’t it wait until morning?’

‘Why?’ he looked at her jovially, ‘You planning on running off come morning?’

The truthful answer was indeed yes, that had been her plan exactly. But telling Arthur so would likely not do her any favours and he would probably question her further. He seemed to willingly accept her silence though and continued to carry her out of the barn.

He trudged up the path and then stopped by a cabin. After Arthur had knocked on the door, which was a little difficult while Mary was still in his arms, Charles opened it. The only thing that suggested Charles was vaguely surprised by Mary’s reappearance was a slight widening of his eyes.

‘Good evening, Arthur. Evening, Miss Gillis,’ Charles greeted them.

‘Sorry to bother yer, Charles. Got an unexpected guest, would you mind putting Shadow away in a stall and then saddling up Boadicea for me?’

Charles nodded slowly. ‘Sure, I’ll just put my boots on, then get right to it.’

‘Thanks, Charles.’

Arthur hoisted Mary up again, so she was raised a little higher in his arms and continued on their way to the house. Arthur pushed open the door with an elbow and his foot. He seemed to consider removing his boots for a moment, then gave a shrug and made his way up the stairs.

‘Guess Abigail will have to get cross with me,’ he said jokingly to Mary, as though confirming her suspicions.

‘I wouldn’t risk that,’ Mary said quietly.

Arthur chuckled. ‘She likes me. Now if I was John would be a whole ‘nother matter.’

Mary felt her stomach clench tightly, as though the idea of Abigail liking Arthur made her feel rather sick. She tried to dismiss it as foolishness, but it seemed odd that a handsome man like Arthur had no other women around him apart from Abigail. Mary chastised herself at the notion. There was no cause to feel jealous, she had no claim to Arthur Morgan and Abigail was a married woman with a child. Though Mary couldn’t deny the hot anger that burned inside her at the very idea of him flirting and charming the unmarried ladies of Strawberry.

He took her past the other rooms and back to the room she had stayed in previously. Then gently placed her on the bed, taking the boot out of her hand. He gestured to her other foot, still with the brown boot on.

‘Do yer need any help with that one?’

‘No, I’ll be fine.’ She reached down to untie the laces and then looked up at him, he was still hovering by the bed as though waiting for her command and gazing at her with such warmth and softness in his eyes it almost made her embarrassed. ‘Thank you, Arthur. You’re far too kind.’

He gave a rueful chuckle and looked down at his feet. ‘Ah, well, don’ know about tha’.’

She frowned in puzzlement, he was an odd man. But then perhaps she had grown too used to the men who frequented saloons and gambling halls, who would buzz around her like flies and had only one thing on their mind. Unconditional kindness was not something she was used to at all. There always had to be something people wanted.

‘Anyway,’ he continued, while she took off her other boot. ‘I’ll leave yer be and go get that doctor.’

She decided not to argue, but instead said, ‘Thank you, Arthur. I’m sorry to be trouble and I’ll try to be gone by first light tomorrow.’

She was surprised to see his expression change so quickly to one of a formidable frown. In a different life perhaps, he would have made for a terrifying outlaw with a glare like that. His brow furrowed, Arthur shook his head adamantly.

‘Now, c’mon, won’t hear of that. You ain’t well and yer need rest. I can write yer family a letter if you want, then they can come and get yer, if you insist on that.’

‘Arthur-!’ she tried to plead with him, but he raised a hand to stop her, then sat by her on the bed. She knew her eyes were wide and she shifted back a little. He stayed where he was and gently lifted his hand, as though showing he meant her no harm.

‘Mary.’

She swallowed on hearing him use her first name and he lay his hand face up on the bed, inviting her to place her hand in his. Despite her better judgement, she found herself compelled to tentatively place her fingers against his palm. His hand was warm, rough and calloused from the hardworking, honest life he led and it almost broke her to see her dirty nails and scarred knuckles. That hand had once been soft, pale, unfamiliar to hard work or a difficult life.

She lowered her head to avoid his gaze. It was on her so intensely and the bed creaked a little as he shifted his weight. But he then let out a sigh. ‘Mary, I know we don’ know each other well and most would prob’ly call me a fool for trustin’ and welcomin’ yer into my home, but I welcome you gladly. Any time, any day.’

His other hand slipped over hers and she quickly looked up at him. His beautiful blue eyes were searching into her own and she felt a warm blush creep onto her cheeks. She felt honoured to be trusted by him when she had done absolutely nothing to warrant that trust. She pulled her gaze away and looked over to the window. But it couldn’t be helped, the hot, uncomfortable blur of tears filled her eyes and she tried her best to will them away.

‘Mary, wha’s wrong? You ain’t angry at me, are yer?’

She tried her best to shake her head and blink back her tears, but they spilled over her cheeks. She didn’t deserve this. She hadn’t done anything to deserve this. If anything, she had earnt the noose a long time ago. Yet here this man was showing her all the kindness in the world.

‘Arthur, what’s going on-?’ a sharp voice from the doorway made her look up, and she quickly wiped away her tears on seeing Abigail standing there. If Abigail was surprised to see Mary again, she did not show it. Though Arthur jumped slightly and pulled his hands away from Mary, almost guiltily.

‘I… er… found Miss Gillis in the barn again,’ Arthur said by way of explanation. ‘She’s hurt her ankle, I was goin’ to get the doctor.’

Abigail raised a brow, and Mary could see why it didn’t exactly look like Arthur had been off to fetch the doctor! Arthur nervously rubbed the back of his head.

‘Well, you better be off then, if Miss Gillis is injured,’ Abigail remarked coolly.

‘Sure, yes.’ Arthur turned to Mary and gave her a quick nod. ‘I’ll be back soon, Miss Gillis, shan’t take long. Abigail’s here if yer need anything.’

She had managed to calm herself at long last and was no longer crying, but when she glanced over at Abigail she couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the cold, steely glare that the other woman wore. Arthur, however, smiled eagerly at them both, then headed back downstairs.

‘I suggest you get some rest,’ Abigail muttered. Mary got the sense Abigail would have rather suggested she throw herself out the window instead! But she didn’t get any time to apologise to Abigail for disturbing them again and being a burden. Abigail extinguished the gas lamp and then shut the door with a sharp snap.