Arthur Morgan sat on his cot that sat next to one of the wagons the gang hauled down off the mountains. There the gang sat at a place called Horseshoe Overlook, a small patch of nature on a cliff not too far from the town of Valentine. Arthur had a hold of his journal that he enjoyed writing and drawing in. After spending a few weeks at Horseshoe Overlook, he decided to take this moment to write down the thoughts he had at that moment.

We got off the mountain, and rode east into some pretty enough country called the Heartlands. Ain't been this far east in many a year. Dutch seems a little better. His eyes are sparkling once more and, I can see he is thinking a little clearer. I think we all feel a little happier, spite of Blackwater and that whole mess.

Arthur lets out a sigh as he puts his journal back into his satchel. He stands up while grabbing his hat off the table that sat close to his cot. He steps out from his living space only to be greeted by a familiar face.
"Arthur." Said an older looking gentleman offering Arthur a cup of coffee.
"Hosea." Arthur responded, taking the coffee with a nod. Hosea smiles and gently pats Arthur's shoulder.
"Quite a day." Said Hosea with his arms outstretched.
"Let's hope so." Said Arthur taking a sip of coffee.
"There's a bunch of the boys already in Valentine, Bill, Charles and Javier." Said Hosea. "And Swanson found something, down at the train station by the lake apparently. And Strauss came back with that creepy little smile on his face. I'm sure there is a whole list of unfortunates he's forced money upon."

Arthur listens to Hosea as he finishes his coffee, letting out a low and deep chuckle at Hosea's comment.
"Thank you." Said Arthur. "And you?"
"I'm gonna read a book." Said Hosea as he then walked off to presumably his own living space. Arthur looks around camp before trying to find something to make himself useful with. As he walked past one of the wagons, he saw Uncle, leaned against one of the wheels fast asleep. Annoyed by his laziness, Arthur kicks Uncle in the legs to startle him awake.
"Try not to work yourself to death there, Uncle." Said Arthur as the old man quickly got up to his feet.
"I was thinking." Said Uncle.
"Does it pay well?" Asked Arthur skeptically.
"Eventually." Said Uncle.

Arthur gave him a slight smile and chuckle before patting him on the back.
"So, while the rest of us are busy, stealing, killing, lying, fighting to try to survive, you get to think all day." Said Arthur sarcastically.
"It's a strange world we live in, Arthur Morgan." Said Uncle. arthur sighs while shaking his head.
"Do you wanna head into town, see if we can find anything out?" Offered Arthur.
"Sure, I got some errands to run." Said Uncle.
"Great. Go check to the horses are ready." Said arthur strenly. Uncle seemed to look annoyed as he let out an irritated sigh as he went to check on the horses.

Arthur watches him with an amusing smile on his face as he takes out a cigarette. He lights it with a match as he hears the voice of Karen calling to him.
"If you're gonna take the old man into town, could you take us too?" Asked Karen with a smile as Mary-Beth and Tilly stood not too far away from her.
"Why, what you got planned?" Asked Arthur as he puffed on his cigarette.
"Nothing, we'll find something for y'all to do, we always do." Said Karen as her and the rest of the girls follow her.
"We're bored out of our minds. Been cooped up here for two weeks now. Karen's about ready to murder Grimshaw." Chuckled Mary-Beth.
"Well, can Miss Grimshaw spare you?" asked Arthur. All three women collectively sighed and rolled their eyes.
" 'Can Miss Grimshaw spare you?' ' Mocked Karen. "What's happened to you Arthur? Three young healthy women want you to take 'em robbing, you're worried about house chores? Let's go!" Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at the women.
"Fair enough, you got me. Come on then." Said Arthur as the girls get giddy with each other before climbing into the wagon.

The group would soon arrive in Valentine and park their wagon near the stables. Valentine was a livestock town, dealing with sheep. Not the biggest town, but certainly not the smallest. The group split up, the women off to try and find some info on some big hits in town while also stealing from men with their "feminine charms." Arthur and Uncle would go to the general store to get some food and liquor. After dealing with some troublemakers the group would soon meet back up about an hour later. right before they were about to leave, Mary-Beth brought something to the group's attention.
"Hey, who's that guy over there looking at us?" Asked Mary-Beth.

The group turned to see a well dressed man with a well kept hair style. He was wearing a tartan suit as he sat upon his horse.
"Weren't you in Blackwater a few weeks back?" Asked the gentleman.
"Me? no sir, ain't from there." Said Arthur with a stone face.
"Oh, you were. Well, I definitely saw you. With a bunch of fellers." The Gentleman said loudly.
"Me? No. Impossible. Listen, buddy. Come here for a minute." Said Arthur as he approached the man.
"I saw you!" Yelled the man.
"Come here!"
"Come on, get!" The man said to his horse as he turned and began to run away.

Arthur turned around to the group he came into town with. All of them were still with frightened looks on their faces.
"I don't like this." Said Uncle.
"Me neither. Go get the girls home. I'm gonna go have a word with our friend." Said Arthur as he mounted a horse next to him that wasn't his.
"Be careful Arthur." Said Marry-Beth.
"Just a word." Arthur Said as he looked forward in anger. He would soon speed off after the man as a gentleman hollered behind him.
"Hey! That's my horse!"

Arthur would chase the man out of town with the man yelling back at him to get away. While the man turned to keep yelling at Arthur, he wasn't watching where he was going as he was heading for a cliff. As he got closer, his horse came to a stop suddenly, causing him to fall from his horse and roll off the edge. He clasped the edge and held on for dear life. Arthur came to a stop and hopped off his horse and approached the man. standing over the top of him.
"Why you telling lies about me?" Asked Arthur sarcastically.
"No, NO! I got it all wrong partner, I got it very wrong! Now please help me up!" Cried the man dangling for his life. Arthur's voice then got very serious as he leant down closer to the man.
"I ain't never been in Blackwater." Said Arthur in a deep dark tone.
"Then why are you chasing me!?" Yelled the man.
"I've got an unfortunate face!" Said Arthur.
"Yes! yes, me too!" Said the man as he then began to sob. "Now please, pull me up, please!"

Arthur pondered for a moment on whether or not he should save this sorry fool, or squash all chances of him squealing by stomping on his fingers and letting him die. The man continued to beg as Arthur saw something in his peripherals. Arthur looked over at a tree and what he saw made his blood run cold. Behind a tree, peeking out was a long, serpent like creature watching them. Its eyes glowed a hellish red as the corners of its mouth were raised in a crooked smile. God it's face, it was like Arthur was looking into the face of the Devil himself. The figure said nothing nor did it do anything. It just watched and smiled. The more Arthur looked at it, more devilish features began to pop out. It had horns, one of a goat, the other of a stag, It had the arm of a lion, yet he could see it was standing on a hoofed foot. Arthur had never seen anything like it. The longer he stared at it, the colder his blood grew. His concentration on the creature was broken as he heard the man continue to call for his help.
"I'm slipping! Help me!" Yelled the man.

Arthur quickly looks down at the man for a split second before looking back at the tree. Whatever creature he saw behind the tree was now gone. Arthur quickly blinks and rubs his eyes, thinking he was going mad. He looks back down at the man, and swears under his breath before he bends down and grabs the man's hand. Slowly but surely he helps the man up from his predicament.
"Alright, come on." Said Arthur as he helped him up. Arthur dusts off his hands after the man is safely on the edge, laying on his back. "You ok partner?"
"No, no I am not." said the man as he soon got up and onto his feet. "I'm a mess."
"Well, you ain't dead." Arthur commented.
"There is that." Said the man as he started to straighten his back. He then extends out his hand towards Arthur. "Jimmy Brooks." Arthur never even glanced down at Jimmy Brooks' hand as he continued to look him in his eyes.
"I think it's best for both of us, if we pretend this never happened." Arthur said coldly.

Jimmy Brooks slowly pulled his arm back, the look of fear from almost dying was still plastered on his face. Arthur looked into his fearful eyes, as the vision of the creature's smile re-appeared in his mind. It was almost like Arthur could see that exact same smile, were inside Jimmy Brooks's eyes. He blinked a few times, but he swore he could still see it.
"Oh, I agree. You saved my life." Said Jimmy Brooks. "You're a good man and I... uh, here. You want a pen? It's one of them steel ones." Jimmy Brooks offered the pen to Arthur who took it and examined it.
"Oh, that's very kind of you." Said Arthur looking at the pen. The pen was fancy with a little engraving on it of a picture with a unicorn with wings on it. While holding it, Arthur had a warm feeling as all angry emotions seemed to dissipate from him a bit as he stared at the pen. Arthur snaps out of it before looking back at Jimmy Brooks. "But I'm not a good man, Jimmy Brooks, not usually. You see... I was in Blackwater. I kill people, and maybe I shoulda killed you." Arthur then steps forward till Arthur's chest was almost pressing into Jimmy Brooks' chest. "Should I have killed you, Jimmy Brooks?"

The look of fear quickly came back over Jimmy Brooks' face as he stared into Arthur's face.
"Me? I ne-never saw you. Not-not now, not-not never! I think we have an understanding?" Said Jimmy Brooks.
"Of course we do." Said Arthur letting out a small smile. He then pat's Jimmy on the shoulder as Jimmy let out a nervous chuckle. "Jimmy Brooks, I will remember that. I've got a good memory."
"I haven't! I haven't, not one... uh not one sense in this here old mind!" Said Jimmy Brooks as he soon backed away to his horse, he quickly got on top and rode away.

Arthur watched him as he rode away, surprisingly riding past the tree he saw the creature. But to Arthur's surprise, something was back behind the tree, and it wasn't the serpent like creature. This time the thing Arthur saw was on four feet, like a horse. Well, it looked an awful lot like a horse, except the pure white coat it had. No even The Count had a coat that white. Arthur's eyes adjusted to what he was seeing. The horse had a long, flowing mane consisting of at least three different colors. His jaw dropped as he soon could tell that the horse was winged, and had a horn like a unicorn. He looks back down at the pen Jimmy Brooks had given him, and the engraving of a similar horse emblazoned upon it. He looks back up to see it still standing there. It smiles warmly at him before giving him an approving nod. It had turned and walked back behind the tree and seemingly disappeared.

Arthur blinked a few times before taking off his hat and rubbing his eyes. He wipes his brow before putting his hat back on and looking back at the tree. The tree was far too skinny to have a horse hiding behind it.
"Well, it's finally happened. I'm either going crazy, or going stupid." Said Arthur as he then stuck the pen into his satchel and then turned back to the horse he borrowed. Something told him to just keep it, but no, if he didn't he would be a horse thief. That kind of attention was too risky, and they had just gotten here. He hops on the horse with the intention to return it. He looked back at the tree one more time, both visions flash in his head one more time, the devilish serpent, and the benevolent winged horse. He turned away and made his way back into town to return the horse.

Author's Note

Gonna be off and on with retelling the story of RDR2, it will become much more origional down the line.