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Chapter 11 Pt.II

"Mud & Morons"

(Polite Society, Valentine Style)

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The horses nickered, tossing about their beautiful brown mane as they trotted along the dirt path to Valentine. The sky was clear blue, animals playfully scurried along in the thick brushes of the wilderness. A common American Red Fox would occasionally dash by, sometimes even underneath the wagons or in-between the horse's legs.

Willow was swinging her legs in a carefree way as usual, sitting by Tulip's side while Sadie was at the back of the wagon. Arthur was glad with the company they brought along...except for Uncle. But it wasn't true hate or anything, much like Willow, he just likes to poke fun of Uncle most of the time.

Most of the time.

Uncle looked over his shoulder, "Ladies, sing us a song."

The girls chuckled and even Tulip and Willow looked at each other with a smile, "Might as well sing songs and have fun while it lasts am I wrong?" Sadie found it so strange how the gang could be so destructive and threatening, yet here they are, getting ready to have their share of entertainment and joyous time.

"I..." Karen began, "Got a girl in Berryville...can't be screwed 'cause she's too damn ill. So I don't go down there no more, there's a blue horse lays outside her door!"

Soon, the others joined and Willow roughly pulled Tulip and began swaying again from side to side, Tulip rolled her eyes, sighing yet smiling. Tulip hummed along, "I got a girl in Valentine...likes to drink that fancy wine!"

May-Beth raised her arms, "Plumes in her hat was two feet tall...the crack in her pants paid for it all!

"I got a girl in Berryville!" Willow chuckled while doing the chorus, Uncle was laughing and clapping a bit, "Can't get in her cause she won't stay still! She kicks and squeals and farts and hollers!"

"Won't take less than seven dollars!" They all laughed and clapped, Arthur was grinning and shaking his head, it was too catchy. While Sadie on the other hand was actually humming along too, she couldn't help but smirk a tiny bit. The little posse was laughing already, they all haven't had this much fun for a long time after that botched ferry heist, Tulip and the others had already forgotten it during these moments.

As they crossed the roads up towards the railroads that led to the livestock town of Valentine, they saw something racing by at ludicrous speeds. Uncle was the first to point it out (literally), "Look at that coach, he's all over the place."

"Oh, goddamnit! Oh shit, the horses!" The man cried out. "Damn horses..."

The wagons stopped right next to each other and Sadie was watching the two draft horses break off in two separate directions, "Is one of you gonna get that feller's horse?"

Uncle looked at Mrs. Adler, "Oh, I got lumbago, it's very serious!"

Arthur was going to make a snide remark, but Willow beat him to it and placed her hands on her hips, "Oh sureee ya do, old man!"

"Alright, I'll see what's going on..." Tulip sighed, jumping off. Arthur glanced at her, "You don't have to do it, Tulip." He continued, knowing how stubborn she was nonetheless. "Lumbago. Really..." He looked to her and sighed.

"Mm-hm." She snickered. "C'mon."

Arthur and Tulip approached the man who owned them and was wearing unkempt, regular clothes. "Oh hey, y'all mind on helping me get my two horses back from over at them parts, could you?"

Arthur honestly found this a waste of time, and Tulip knew, so she elbowed him slightly. He almost wanted to make a retort, but kept it to himself. Tulip's always wantin' to drag me along and help folks. At least he was in a good mood. "Sure, why not?"

"Thanks, one of them is the white one over there, the brown one's at down this little hill. Tried calming it, but that damn animal almost kicked me! Fierce one, he is, I'm warning you."

Tulip already going to the other way, Arthur had no choice, but decided to head for the white draft horse that was scurrying around between the trees, "You can do it, Arthur." Mary-Beth called out.

"Don't get yer head kicked in, Tulip!" The woman sent a glare at Willow who chuckled before heading over to the other one. "Oh, I'm kiddin', careful Tulip!"

She slowly approached the large, looming Shire horse that was nickering about. "Shh...Shh..."

Sadie got up from her seat, curiously watching, "How's she gonna get the horse without sayin' a single word? The man's not lyin' when he said that it was fierce."

Willow laid on the front seat, her hands behind her head as she took on a very relaxed and almost rude-looking posture. "Eh, she dealt with much worse things. What I wanna know is how do ya live in that mountain? It's goddamn cold and empty, that place!"

Sadie smirked, "Oh, I'll tell you later. Just hope what you said don't happen or else we got a dead woman with a skull that's been bashed in."

Willow winced at the thought of it, "Sure hope that ain't the case, but I doubt it."

"Seen it before, it's was pretty damn ugly..."

The horse was huge compared to her Foxtrotter, but it was no surprise, to her knowledge, Shires are the biggest breeds. Tulip was clicking her tongue, even though it isn't a normal tongue, it doesn't mean she couldn't do it. The horse was tossing its head around finally noticing the approaching cowgirl, its legs weren't kicking around as high into the air as Tulip patiently waited.

Holding out a hand, she calmly patted the top of its head. She chuckled, Shires are docile compared to the horses she'd seen in the past. In no time, she took its reins and led it to the owner. Whatever the case was, the draft horses are normally friendly and have a sweet nature.

She tipped her hat and Arthur returned with the white Shire, "Here, here ya go."

"Thank you both! You're a gentleman, sir, a gentleman!"

"Naw, not really... I was just...tryna impress the women."

"Haha, well, anyway, thank you both."

Uncle was going to pull out something, but it seemed like he ran out of it. "Come on, let's go!" Tulip can get a good guess that he was going to pull out a bottle.

"To Valentine!" Karen exclaimed.

"Woo!"

She jumped onto the wagon and continued moving along, Willow nudged her shoulder. "Ya did good as always."

Uncle was snickering, "You're turning into a regular old fairy godmother there, Arthur."

He flicked the reins, looking at the corner of his eye with a questioning glance, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Mary-Beth explained, knowing that Uncle was referencing something from a story. "It means you've got a heart."

Karen Jones chimed in, "A small one perhaps, hidden deep inside, but a real one."

"And you haven't repulsive, old lizard!"

"Ha!" Willow cackled.

Uncle turned to the ladies, "Lizards have hearts!"

"I can't believe this..." Sadie shook her head, enjoying every moment of it.

Arthur was a bit embarrassed inside, but he refused to show it, "Well, I'm proud of you." Tilly said.

He smirked, "To be honest, if you lot hadn't been here...I probably would've robbed him." They all let out a small laugh.

"Well, ya didn't!" Willow called out.

As they strode into town, passing by the livestock and animals that were fenced in, Karen replied, "Wooh, smell those sheep! Ha!" She continued. "...Or is that Uncle?" It prompted the group to laugh.

"Haha, oh very funny!" The old, lazy man responded.

"This looks like a decent little town."

"Other people...finally."

"Other morons most likely hehe." Willow whispered.

"Look at all that snow on the mountains. Sure don't want to be back up there." Just like this morning with Hosea, the white blanketed and spilled down from New Ambarino.

"You think we should've asked Molly to come with us?"

Karen scoffed and waved her hand in a mocking and extravagant way that reminded Willow of some folks back in Blackwater. "Oh no, Miss O'Shea is far too high and mighty now for the likes of us... Or to do any real work. She's a society lady, now." Arthur steered the wagon and prepared for a stop, "Okay, take a good look around, ladies. Let's see what we got here."

Uncle and the others spotted a particular building, "Sheriff's office on the right. I'm sure you and Tulip can pick up some bounties there."

"Heaven forbid you put your head on the line." Arthur said.

"Heh, that's a young man's game."

"Ya do know that once there's bounties, it'll just become a competition, right?" They all chuckled, "I remember ya- "

" -No, no you don't, don't say nothin' about that, Willow." He quickly cut her off.

Tulip laughed, Sadie tilted her head in confusion. "What did he do?"

She had that mocking grin, "Ohhh, I'll tell ya later!" She leaned in and gestured with her finger for Sadie to do the same, then whispered. "In short though, Arthur wanted to steal Tulip's bounty. They had a bet on who can get the most before the sun's down an' the moon's sittin hiiiigh in the sky..."

Sadie couldn't help but chuckle, imagining it. "Hohoh, sounds like a good one..."

"Ya bet!"

Arthur could hear Willow's quiet laughter, "Hey, what did I just tell you?"

She jumped and sat straight, a wide shit-eating smile danced across her lips. "Ya said, 'Hey, what did I just tell ya'!"

Tulip and the ladies snickered, he shook his head. "Tryin' to act like a wise one, ain'tcha..."

Karen was eyeing the Valentine Saloon, "Ooh yes, we can get up to some mischief here alright..."

"Just remember, keep a low profile."

"Will you remember that, though, Arthur?"

"Probably not." He smirked.

"Let's park up down the end there, near the stables."

Tulip was passing by a man standing just outside of the stables, the sign had been about donating to the poor. There was a gray spotted dog that was barking at them, it wasn't hostile or anything though. It was actually wagging its tail excitedly to meet newcomers.

"Alright! Here, we are, just like I said. The cultural center of civilization. Man at his finest." He laughed.

"Uncle, what're we doin'?"

"Well, we're gonna do what any self-respecting maniac does...put the women to work." Arthur was smiling about this trip, if Grimshaw ever found out, he'd probably and most likely be dead meat.

"With pleasure... we'll start at the saloon."

"Okay, just stay outta trouble and don't get yourselves noticed."

"Right, I- I need to get something from the stores."

"Okay, well we'll see you at the general store when you're done."

"C'mon ladies...imagine we're in Paris!"

"I imagine Paris and Valentine are easily confused..."

Tulip offered a hand for Sadie to take, even though it was completely unnecessary, she took it nonetheless.

"So that's how you see yourself, is it? A maniac?"

"Well, in my youth, I used to be known as the 'one-shot kid'." Uncle proudly said.

"Was that true?" Sadie asked, though it was more if a statement. He lied so much that even Tulip couldn't tell, she just shrugged in response.

"Okay... I'm not gonna ask why."

"You're a sad man, Arthur Morgan." Then he quickly added. "But I know you love me."

"Desperately...you're my favorite parasite." They came up the steps, then Arthur pretended to be deep in thought. "No... ringworm's my favorite parasite, you're my second favorite parasite."

"Very funny."

"Wait, I lied...ringworm..." He listed with his fingers, "Then rats with the plague, then you."

Willow shook her head, "You two..." Tulip and her chuckled under their breaths.

Uncle replied, "Shut up... This is the place, now. Come on."

Sadie and the two girls were staring at the signs of brands from various products hanging next to the window and door. " 'Old Blood Eyes', I ought to try that drink. Sounds like it can burn, just like how I like 'em."

" 'White's... Big Game Callers Animal Scents'..." Willow and Sadie glanced at each other, "Gross." They grinned.

Tulip shook her head, animal scents are basically piss, but they work at least. To some extent that is.

Uncle entered and so did the others, "Mornin'."

"So what do you need?"

"Well, a drop of whiskey for a start. Something to pass the time while we're waiting on the women."

"Always thinkin' ahead, ain't you?"

"Why don't you pick out a cigar? A cigar always focuses the mind, I find."

Tulip was somewhat boredly staring at the Jolly Jacks product, the depiction of the person with a giant mouth was a little funny.

"What we're ya saying?"

"Well, you seem a little scattered, Arthur. Trust Old Uncle."

"Pfft." Willow smiled.

The shopkeeper called up, "Lemme know if you have any questions, fellers."

"Well, sure I'll take this and...I'll just take one pack of this Premium Cigarettes, why not..." He took a cigar, a single one that costed $1.50, he'd rather rob it off someone honestly.

She looked over Arthur's shoulder, "Oh, can I have that card?"

"Collectin' cards? Since when did you become interested in 'em, Willow?"

She snatched the card that was labeled No.2. "Oh, hush. I wanna see the legendary gunslinger cards if ya got one! Ah, ya got the Famous Gunslingers card set, Otis Miller Boys... Cool." She stuffed it into her little pocket. "Hey, maybe we might see ourselves on them."

"Ha, I doubt that."

"Not you, Arth." She and Tulip shared a glance and Tulip had her eyes slightly widened, she pulled her hat down, looking away.

"Her, huh." Arthur found it interesting, but he didn't pry and question.

"Ooh." Willow grabbed a bottle and showed it to Sadie, "If ya really wanna have a party, maybe get some of theseee... Hm." She read the label. " 'Guarma Rum, Cinco Torres'."

The shopkeeper spoke up, "It's some strong poison, ladies, good stuff. Careful not to have too much fun, I ain't the one responsible."

Tulip, who was facing away from them, was slightly smirking. With Willow, everything's a party, and with Uncle thrown into the mix, it's an endless mess of laughter.

"So, you're actually buying for once? Are you feeling alright?" Arthur was seeing that Uncle was messing with the cheese wedges on the counter, smelling them.

He laughed and waved the cheese around, talking to the person behind the counter. "See this? Young folk got no respect for their elders no more. What do you reckon? A lamb or a sausage?"

"Well, this here's a sheep town, the lamb's the best in the state."

"Now I know what the smell is." He was still messing around with the cheese wedge.

Sadie muttered, "I still reckon it's Uncle..."

"Pfft!" Willow caught it, and Tulip made an airy cackle through her nose.

"That's a ripe cheese alright." He said. "Look at this, a jaw harp."

Arthur now turned with his full attention, his eyebrows scrunched in a very confused manner. Even Tulip and the other girls paused in their little shopping, baffled."What is this list of yours?"

"I got a lot to replenish after that god awful time in the mountains... All done."

"Thank you kindly."

"This should do the trick." In no time, he pulled the cork out and began drinking the Old Blood Eyes Kentucky Bourbon, "Ah, yep...fine whiskey."

Willow came up, "Do you have any 'Penny Dreadful, Wild West Heroes' comics?"

"Oh, yeah, got 'em under the counter. Just one though." He pulled it out and let the comic fall flat onto the counter, "It'll be a few cents."

Before Willow would even have her hand reach into her pocket, she saw a hand already placing the shiny coins on the wooden counter, it chimed and rolled. "I'll buy it for you, Willow, least I can do." It was Mrs. Alder.

"Thank you, Sadie."

As they all finished their business, Tulip grabbing a few little packets of candy for Willow and Jack, they stood out on the porch in front of the store. "Y'all just gonna wait here and knock yourselves out 'til the ladies come back?"

"Yep."

Tulip took a seat, setting one leg over the other. She made a few quick signs with her fingers and Willow watched them, "Mess around, I'll just draw and take a rest."

"Sure thing, c'mon Sadie! I'll show ya how to get a man's attention..."

"W-wait but- " Willow abruptly grabbed her hand, unsure of what Tulip just said.

She cut her off, "Nope! I'll teach ya how you can earn your keep for the camp...the fun way!" Willow pulled her away.

Uncle handed the bottle to Arthur, "Here's to your good health, sir...and to being down here, off that mountain."

"Absolutely."

They watched Karen drag a random stranger off to the hotel, "It's a funny world. This time in my career...I pictured myself being married to an heiress..."

Tulip shook her head, Uncle has the wildest imaginations of a fool, but they were funny. His camp stories, no matter how ridiculous it was, it's hilarious and Jack would always love hearing stories.

Uncle keep going and they were both drinking until his voice just trailed off and they both would eventually fall asleep, Tulip didn't have much to draw since she wasn't good at drawing straight from her memory unlike Arthur, so she had closed her book long ago and shifted her hat's brim down, soon dozing off. She had wondered what Willow was exactly planning with Sadie, it's always something that'd draw attention, but Willow would somehow pull it off regardless.

Tulip was still caressing the wrinkled surface of the folded map piece, heavy questions lingering around her mind and Hosea's wisdom from the morning.

Arthur's voice echoed within the depths of her mindscape.

"Tulip's no saint, she doesn't just kill..."

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A/N : Finals this week jeebus! Still recreating journal, doing homework, drawing OCs, and whatnot. Speaking of which, I should clarify some things...
Twitter, @KayKatMeow
DeviantArt(DA), Fanfiction.net, JaneValentine007
Discord, El (OldAmericanVenom)#4323

Published : Jan.23, 2019