Rules are pretty simple, I am a very open person that will accept all! However, I do have the right to refuse an ask. Please, please, please do not take it personal if I do not answer! Most times it’s because I don’t think I could do it justice or I am not comfortable. At the same time thanks to good ol’ ADHD it may take me a while to write. I also feed off of good vibes so leaving me love just gives you love right back!!!
You are rescued by a mysterious stranger after a run in with The Murfrees. You were almost certain you were never going to see him again, but it seemed fate had other plans.
Paring: Arthur Morgan x F!Reader(Van Horn Damsel)
Rating: M
Warnings: Mentions of Violence
Bradley was a sweet man, one who would make a decent husband. At least that's what your mama kept telling you. He insisted on taking you home after a gathering you were both at, an offer you gladly accepted since it was so late. You were not even a couple of miles from Van Horn when the horses started to act frightened. You didn’t even see them at first, popping out of nowhere with their torches and sinister snickering.
Murfrees.
“Awfully late,” one spoke in an eerie tone. “Not safe out here, you know.”
“I got this,” Bradley whispered before speaking to the men. “Listen, fellas, we don’t want any trouble.”
They don’t respond, hopping off their horses before stepping closer.
“Look, just…just let us go. I promise we will get out of your hair in no time!” Bradley continues; again, they don’t say anything. Before you could even respond, they charged, throwing you both off the carriage.
“Don’t shoot me, please!” Bradley cries out. “Just take her!”
Wait, what?
“Just take her and let me go!”
A gunshot to his face was their response.
You scream in terror; even in the moonlight, you could see the gruesome display as his body fell limp on the ground.
“Oh god! You killed him! Why would you do that?!” You scream as one of the men pins you to the ground.
You struggle, trying your best to kick him off, but it was clear he was much stronger. You could feel him bind your hands and feet. The rough texture of the rope causing you to cry out in pain.
“He didn’t give a hoot about you keep still!” One yelled out.
“Her squirmings got me all red,” the other giggled. “She’s gonna be fun!”
No, this couldn’t be happening to you…not now. You had heard several stories about these animals, even crossed paths with them, and barely escaped. You should have stayed at the cabin for the night. You would have been safe, and Bradley would still be alive if it weren’t for-
You hear a sharp hit followed by a wet gurgle, looking up to see one of the men drop to the ground instantly as blood oozed out from his head. The other man lets out a confused noise, watching the bullet crash against his chest, his blood hitting your face from the impact. You try to pull yourself together, struggling to breathe as you move, only to pause as a pair of rough, weather-worn boots appeared in your line of vision. You didn’t have to look up to feel a wave of intimidation; whoever just saved you…they held quite the presence.
“P-Please…cut these ropes off me?” You ask carefully, hoping to the good Lord that this was someone friendly and not another threat. You hear the pulling of a knife before feeling your bonds come loose. Once your legs were free, you slowly stood and faced your savior.
Oh…
You could barely see his face, thanks to the way he kept his hat so low. But even so, his stature alone made your heart jump up your throat. He was tall, very tall, with a thick, muscular build to him.
Your suspicions were correct; this man was beyond intimidating.
“Y-You’re one of the good ones. Aren’t you?” You stumble as you wrap your arms around yourself. You hear a small but deep scoff come out of him in reply.
“Never been called that before.” His voice is gruff; you could practically hear the number of cigarettes he smoked in that voice. “But I ain’t here to hurt you, ma’am.”
“Oh, thank the Lord for that!” You breathe a sigh of relief. “Will you get me out of here? Please take me away from these awful men!”
“Course,” he replied with a nod. “Anything I can do to help you in your time of need.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you so much!” You smile. “I-I live in Van Horn…if that’s not too far for you.”
“Not at all, ma’am. Come on.”
His voice may have been rough, but it held such gentleness. Something you found rather comforting as he walked towards his horse. It was just as big as the man was, a black Shire horse with a white streak running down its snout. Quite beautiful, you thought while he climbed on it.
“Here, let me help you up,” he held out a gloved hand toward you. A hand you took instantly as he pulled you up and settled behind him before he galloped off. His body radiated warmth against the cool air, relaxing you almost instantly as you placed your hands on his waist to steady yourself.
“Van Horn, huh?” The man spoke up again. “You must be used to foul-acting men then.”
“This sadly was not my first run-in with those hill folk, if that’s what you mean.” You reply with a sad laugh. “Never too long before they let themselves known once their appetites grow past what they find in the woods. Still, poor Bradley.”
The image of him flashed in your mind again, the way his face just…your stomach churned at the memory.
“I mean, he wasn’t the bravest nor the brightest, but…no one deserves that type of death.”
“Bradley? Was he that feller wit’ you?” The man asked.
“Yeah, Bradley Hunt? He’s…he was an old friend of my cousin. He was taking me home…when they attacked. Guess he thought he could talk himself out of a situation.”
“Busy worrying about saving his own skin more like. Doesn’t sound like much of a man to me,” the man replied with a small tone of annoyance.
“Maybe…maybe not,” you reply with a shrug. “Good men are hard to come by around these parts. Real men…they ain’t like the ones in the books I’ve read.”
You then pause, your eyes casting up at his large back. You notice he has light brown hair, almost blond. Long enough to brush past his shoulders.
“Just hope I can trust you, mister,” you added. You hear him give you a small laugh and a gruff “sure” in reply.
The rest of the ride was pretty quiet, allowing you to collect your thoughts on what happened. You had to admit, the ride was pretty peaceful considering. The cool breeze against your face, the rhythmic pattern of the gallops with the man instructing the horse now and then. You were so at peace you almost missed a spot in a tree you always pointed out to indicate you were almost to town.
“We’re getting close now,” you pointed out before letting out a sigh. “It’s nice, riding like this. Almost makes me forget about what happened.”
“Can’t imagine life without it being on horseback. The man replied, rather poetically, you thought.
“Is this what you do, mister?” You couldn’t help but ask. “Ride around the country? Help people in need?”
“Sometimes,” he replied, but didn’t say much after that, and soon you were both back to riding silently. After a few moments, you gave him your name. With everything that happened, you realized you never properly introduced yourself. He, however, didn’t say anything right away, which made your stomach drop just a tad.
“Arthur,” he finally spoke up. “Arthur Morgan.”
“Arthur, like the king,” you commented. “It suits you.”
“If you say so,” Arthur replied, but you could hear the small smile in his tone.
Finally, you saw the familiar dull lighting of Van Horn. You instructed Arthur to stop in front of the saloon, but not without undoing a chain bracelet from your wrist.
“Here,” you handed it over to him. “For your time, and your care.”
“Oh, it weren’t nothing at all, ma’am, really,” Arthur replied but takes the offer anyway.
“Well, it was to me; it sure was to me,” you say as you hop off the horse. The mud instantly sinks into your feet, and you huff before walking towards the saloon.
“You be careful out there, ma’am,” he tells you. “There’s plenty more foul men about.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me; I will…thank you again. Really.”
You don’t make it past the swinging door of the saloon before he calls out to you again.
“Isn’t there a home I can take you to?” Arthur asks. “I just don’t feel comfortable leaving you here by yourself.”
You stand there, almost shocked. You barely knew this man for a couple of minutes, and he was so quick to worry about you. A far cry from what Bradley had done.
“I mean…my home is not far for me to walk,” you reply, but he doesn't seem to want to accept the answer.
“With what you just went through, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Let me take you home.”
“You’ve already done so much for me already,” you argue. “I couldn’t possibly impose.”
“You ain’t, not one bit,” he tells you. “Now hop on.”
“Well…can I at least offer you a warm meal?” You ask, nodding towards the saloon. “It’s on me, my treat.”
You watch Arthur let out a deep breath before unloading his horse and hitching it safely against the wooden bar.
“Can’t say no to a meal,” he comments before holding out his hand for you to go in first. Once you make it inside, you finally get a good look at him. Even with his black leather hat hanging low, you could see his stubbled, sharp jaw, a scar on the left side of his chin causing a sort of bald spot for growth. He was wearing a blue shirt that he had rolled up to his elbows and a black bandana loosely wrapped around his neck. It wasn’t until you both sat down at the bar that you finally saw them, a pair of the most beautiful bluish green eyes you had ever seen on a man.
You were almost certain you lost the ability to breathe.
“So…what exactly do you do, Mr. Morgan?” You ask as you take a bite of the fish stew. You tried your hardest not to laugh at him, almost wolfing his bowl down in one swoop. Poor feller must have been starving.
“Freelancing mostly,” he replies after chasing the food with a shot of whiskey. “Some bounty work, odds and ends type jobs.”
“That would explain the traveling,” you comment. “Do you…enjoy doing what you do?”
“Sometimes,” he shrugs. “As long as it pays good.”
You noticed he didn’t really like talking about himself too much, giving you just enough information without giving too much away. After leaving the saloon, you tell Arthur where you lived, a simple cabin just above a hill. Your mama would be fast asleep by now, the dread of having to tell her what happened washed over you.
“Thank you again, Mr. Morgan,” you say before you go towards the door. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you come along and save my life, but…I’m never going to forget it.
“It was no trouble, just glad you’re alright,” he replied as he tilted his hat to you. “You have a good night, ma’am.”
You watched as he rode off, letting out a shaky breath as you wrapped your arms around yourself. From the chill or the fluttering feeling you caught yourself having, you weren’t very sure. You reasoned it was just being raw from all that had happened, overwhelmed by his kindness. A pity you were never going to see him again, you thought before you went inside.
~*~
A few days later…
They held a simple funeral for Bradley, burying him behind his family’s home. It broke your heart, watching his mama cling to the closed wooden casket for dear life…he deserved so much better than what happened to him.
Even though he was willing to let you get taken for his own sake.
Your mind drifted back to Arthur, wondering where he could be right now. You had caught yourself doing that often, especially when you were reading one of your books about damsels being saved by brave knights. It was silly; you knew that. Still…to you, Arthur was the closest thing to a knight in your eyes. You would soon get your answer one day, as you were just picking up the mail from the post office. You could hear heavy footsteps coming from the hotel on the second floor, only to catch a glimpse of a very familiar figure.
“Mr. Morgan?”
He stops, turning around to see you. Oh my…he was even more handsome in the bright sunlight!
“Well, hello again,” he greets you. “Nice to see you.”
“Likewise! This is most fortuitous…that means lucky,” you reply.
“I know what it means,” he smirked.
“So what brings you around here?” You ask. “An odd job, I take it?”
“You could say that,” he says as he reaches for something in his satchel. “Got a feller wanting to display some fancy fish, and this place is marked as one of the spots.”
“Oh! May I see?” You offer, watching him nod before handing you a map. You take a quick look and see the familiar drawing of the lighthouse. “Oh, I know exactly where it is. I can show you if you like.”
“That’ll be mighty kind of you,” he replies, making your heart flutter.
“Of course! You showed me great kindness; it’s the least I can do!” You smile as you two walk along the muddy road.
“Haven’t been taking more late-night rides, have you?” Arthur asks, making you laugh.
“Oh no, won’t be doing that for a long time,” you reply. “You know, it didn’t really sink in at first…but I can’t believe Bradley was so quick to have them take me like that! It was so…cowardly!”
You then scoff, inwardly scolding yourself.
“I shouldn’t be speaking ill of the dead like that,” you add. “It’s not proper.”
“Men like that have it coming to ‘em,” Arthur commented so casually. This caused you to look at him in surprise. “What? It’s true. Ain’t nothing worse than a yellow-bellied coward who can’t protect a lady.”
He thought of you as a lady; you could feel your face heating up in a blush. When you two finally reached the destination, you stood back and watched as he pulled a folding fishing rod from his bag.
“You ever fished before?” He asked you, catching you off guard.
“Oh…no. It’s more of a man’s hobby,” you shook your head. “But I do like to watch.”
“Not much to watch,” Arthur shrugged. “But I like the company all the same.”
Now you knew you were definitely blushing.
Arthur took this time to tell you the basics of fishing: how certain lures attracted certain fish, and that it was best to fish in the morning or evening when the bugs were out.
“Buddy of mine told me crickets are good bait, but I gotta feeling this big boy is gonna need something a little more flashy,” he tells you.
At first, nothing was happening; you could hear the slow clicking of the reel as he tried to lure.
“Fish think it’s swimming; never let it float, or they won’t bite.”
As soon as he said that, the reel spun in a frenzy. You could see something flapping wildly in the water as he held on.
“I got you, I got you, you son of a bitch!”
You held your breath, eyes widening as the water finally died down. But not without Arthur using all his strength to reel the fish in.
“Now you gotta be careful not to bend too far,” he tells you. “These things will snap like a twig.”
After a few fights, he was finally able to get the fish to shore. You had never seen a fish so big!
“Well ain’t you a beaut!” Arthur praises. “Almost hate having to give it away.”
“My goodness!” You exclaim. “That was…something! You’re quite the fisherman.”
“Eh, I wouldn’t go that far,” Arthur replies as he wraps the fish in paper. “Now I just gotta mail this off.”
After you walk with him back to the post office, he turns to look at you.
“Next time I’m in the area, I can show you how to fish,” he offers. “It’s not as exciting as that, but it’s safer than hunting.”
“I-I would like that,” you reply with a smile. “I take it you’re not staying here long.”
“Nah, never do.” He replied before whistling for his horse to come to him. “Got another location up north.”
“Well, it was very nice seeing you again,” you informed him. You could feel a wave of disappointment at the idea of him leaving…but you had an idea that men like him do this sort of thing all the time.
“Likewise.” With that, he tilts his hat before hopping back on his horse. You then watch as he rides off, the empty feeling coming back just as heavy as before.
~*~
2 months later
Your cabin felt so empty without her there. Your mama had finally lost her battle with a sickness she caught long ago, leaving you to survive on your own. Oh sure, some men, including your own cousin, knocked on your door offering protection and stability. But you were quick to shut them down, quite the taboo despite the lawless town you still lived in.
Truth be told, you were ruined beyond recognition. After meeting Arthur, no man came close to feeling how he made you feel in that short amount of time. Your mama would have slapped you for subjecting yourself to such childish fantasies if she knew. Something you would happily accept if it meant talking to her one more time.
Surviving on your own was proving quite taxing, however. You had the garden, of course, but that wasn’t enough to sustain you. You even had to travel across state lines just to grab supplies from the general store in Saint Denis. You had thought about moving there, but how would you even earn money? For a single woman, jobs were rare and far between unless you fell into prostitution.
Course you couldn’t think that now, you would cross that bridge when you got there. For now, you kept to yourself, keeping your mind busy either by reading or stitching your mama’s old clothes. You were doing that very task when you heard a slow knock at the door. Your body grew tense… You weren’t expecting company.
You got up, quick to grab a cutting knife before you cracked the door. The second you saw a blue shirt, you were hit by a wave of happiness you had not felt in so…so long.
Arthur.
“Mr. Morgan!” You gasp as you open the door wider. “W-What a pleasant surprise!”
He greets you by your name, not ma’am like the many times before. Hearing your name fall off his lips, knowing he even remembered… oh, you really were ruined.
“Please come in!” You offer as you step aside for him to cross the threshold, placing the knife down on the counter before quickly straightening your skirt. “Would you like some tea? Coffee perhaps?”
“Coffee’s fine, thank you.” He replied as he removed his hat, twiddling it between his gloved hands.
“Of course! Please sit,” you hold your hand out to the kitchen table as you begin making preparations. “And to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Well, I was around the area and um…I remembered where you lived, so. I thought I’d stop by.” He spoke, almost nervously.
“Well, I must say, you are the happiest of sights,” you admit. “Are you out doing another odd job?”
“Oh no, no, just…wandering mostly. Like to do that too sometimes.”
“And you went out of your way to see me? I’m quite honored!” You smile as you place a warm mug in front of him before pouring yourself a cup. “How have you been? It’s been quite a while.”
“Oh, you know, same ol’ shit, different day,” he replies with a small laugh. “I’ve actually made a settlement for myself near Saint Denis, but the heat gets to me.”
“Oh, I understand that. Can literally knock the wind out of you!” You sit down across from him, letting out a breath you did not realize you were holding.
“And what about you?” Arthur asks, you letting out a heavy sigh in reply.
“I’ve seen better days,” you admit. “My mama…passed away recently.”
“I’m real sorry to hear that,” Arthur tells you. “Was she sick?”
“Yeah, nasty cough that she couldn’t shake,” you reply. “But I know she’s in a better place.”
Arthur doesn’t say anything right away, his eyes doing a quick scan.
“So, you just live here all by yourself?” He asked. “No…husband to look after you?”
“No,” you were way too quick to answer. “No husband. I mean, there have been offers but…”
There was a look in his eyes, something you were quite sure how to read.
“If you don’t mind me asking. How are you getting by?” He then asked.
“I still have some money left from my Pa after he passed. But…that’s not going to last much longer.”
“Do you have…family to stay with?”
“Unless you think it’s okay to accept my cousins’ proposal, then no.”
You catch the disgust on Arthur’s face.
“What about eating? You got anything left?” He asks.
“The garden, mostly. But that won’t get me through the winter. And there isn’t a store in miles, so…I have to take quite the journey to get basics.”
He nods slowly, looking around once more.
“You’re not gonna survive much longer if you don’t know at least how to hunt or fish,” he comments.
“Well, you did say if you were ever in the area you’d show me how to fish,” you pointed out with a small smile. Arthur lets out a laugh before getting up.
“That I did, didn’t I?” He replies. “Well, you need to learn how to hunt before you know how to fish. Least this way you get more meat and furs for the winter. Now come on, let me show you.”
Your eyes widen, and you quickly get on your feet.
“I-I don’t have a gun,” you point out.
“Don’t worry about it; I'll shoot you skin,” he tells you as you both walk out. You watch as he grabs a rifle from the horse before walking towards the woods.
“O-Okay! Where would we even start?”
“We can start by those trees right over there,” Arthur points. “Get something small that should last you a few days.”
You two walk far enough until you hear a small twig snap, which makes Arthur hold out his hand to stop.
“There, you see that rabbit over there?” He whispers as he slowly kneels. You don’t say a word, staying perfectly still as he aims the rifle. The moment you hear the weapon go off, you jump and watch the rabbit fall instantly.
“Oh! Oh my…” You exclaim. Boy, did this man know how to shoot!
“Got it! Now come on, time to get your hands dirty,” Arthur tells you as he guides you toward the dead animal. “Now just hold the legs real tight and pull the skin away; it should come right off.”
You do as you were instructed, using all your strength until you feel a quick jerk. The skin peels off with such a…disturbing sound, causing your face to twist in disgust.
“There you go! Nothing to it,” Arthur praised. “You just gotta start with little critters. Rabbits, squirrels, fox if you’re feelin’ frisky. Once you get a knack with that? Then you can try out some deer.”
“I think I've seen enough blood for one day,” you comment with a small laugh. “Can we head back?”
Arthur nodded, holding out his hand to let you walk first as he walked alongside you.
“You did real good for your first skin,” he tells you. “You’ll get used to the blood once you get the hang of it.”
“You would think after what I saw that night I would be used to it,” you comment.
“Nah, takes a special type of hard to get used to that,” he replies as if he knew firsthand before quickly changing the subject. “You said you don’t have a rifle, right?”
He then pulls the rifle he had on him and hands it over. “Take this.”
Your eyes widen, shaking your head.
“Oh no, no, you have done so much for me already. I could not possibly take your gun.”
“I got plenty of weapons, trust me,” Arthur argued. “At least I know you got something to protect yourself with.”
The tone in his voice let you know he wasn’t going to back down from it. Letting out a sigh, you took the rifle and wrapped the strap around you.
“You are… truly a godsend, you know that?” You told him, only for him to let out a short laugh.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” he replied.
You had enough ingredients to make a stew, pouring a bowl for both you and Arthur. Something he tried to decline, but you could be as persistent as he was. As you ate, Arthur began telling you stories about the other big fish he found on the map, as well as some animals he had hunted down. Even pointed out some pieces of clothing he had on from the pelts of said animals. You looked and listened in amazement, hanging on his every word. He was so well traveled, you thought. He had seen so many things, things you could only dream about!
“I must say,” you said. “You have lived quite the life, Mr. Morgan.”
“Just Arthur is fine,” he replied. “As for living well…it depends on who you’re talking to.”
“Well, to me you have,” you inform him. “I mean, I only have gone as far as Saint Denis, and I think it is an eutopia.”
Arthur laughed at that.
“All that civilization is nothing but a black pit,” he comments. “But this place? The mountains? That’s real beauty. It’s living free.”
“Since you put it that way,” you couldn’t help but laugh yourself before silence filled the room again.
“You know, I’ve been thinkin’” Arthur speaks up after a while. “And I’ll understand if you say no but…maybe I can stay here with you fer a couple of days.”
You look from your stew with wide eyes.
“You…you want to stay here?” You ask, almost breathless. Arthur shrugs in reply but continues to eat.
“At least until I know you’re good on your feet and don’t gotta worry about anything,” he replies.
“That…I would be deeply honored if you stay,” you tell him. “I cleaned out some things from mama’s room I don’t need anymore, so…you can sleep there.”
Arthur only nodded in reply but didn’t say anything after that.
~*~
He stayed with you for almost a week.
You didn’t fully realize just how much you needed the help until he took over. True to his word, Arthur taught you how to hunt bigger prey as well as fish. He even showed you how to use a rifle properly. When you had to make a trip, he always made sure to go with you into Saint Denis, keeping a close eye on you while you shopped. His towering presence certainly kept unwanted suitors at bay, seeing them from the corner of your eye approach only to back away slowly.
For the first time in a long while, you felt safe. As long as Arthur was around you, you didn’t have to worry about unwanted visits or late-night attacks. But you knew it wouldn’t be for long; as soon as he felt you were good on your own, he would be gone again.
And who knows how long it would be before you ever saw him again.
You had just poured a bowl of freshly made deer stew from the stove as Arthur came in from the back door. Wiping his hands with the bandana he always carried around from tending to his horse.
“Oh good! Just in time,” you announce as you hand him a bowl. “Bon Appétit!”
He gives you a confused look, making you laugh.
“Something I heard someone say back in the city. Wanted to say something fancy.”
Arthur lets out a small scoff.
“Don’t you get all civilized on me,” he comments before taking a bite of the stew.
“I tried that herb the store manager told me about to help with the flavor; let me know what you think,” you tell him. You watch as he savors the taste, giving you a nod of approval.
“Definitely helps,” he tells you. “Mr. Pearson could pick up some notes on making something edible.”
“Mr. Pearson? Is he a friend of yours?” You ask as you make yourself a bowl.
“You could say that,” he replied before sitting down at the table.
“Well, any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” you smile, sitting across from him. “I’d like to meet him one day.”
Arthur nodded, but didn’t comment.
In fact, you noticed as you two were eating that he had sort of a conflicting look on his face. You, of course, didn’t think anything of it at first. But the more conflicted he looked, the more you began to feel concern.
“Is everything alright?” You ask gently, catching him off guard.
“Yeah…yeah,” he was quick to dismiss your question, but his look remained. “Actually, I…I need to talk to you about something.”
Well, that didn’t sound good. You slowly placed your spoon on the table. Silently awaiting what he had to say.
“The thing is…well I…,” he started before letting out a deep sigh. “I was a fool to offer to stay here. I should have just…left you alone, not come knocking on your door. But I guess I’m nothing if not a big, old fool.”
You begin to feel a knot in your stomach, a rather unpleasant one. But you let him continue.
“The thing is, I haven’t been truthful to you about who I am, what I do. I’m a wanderer; yes, I do take on some odd jobs. But that’s not all I do. I’m…I’m a bad man, honey, a bad man that has done very bad things.”
The knot started getting bigger.
“Like what?” You finally ask softly. Arthur let out another breath before getting up and going into the spare room. When you see him return, he hands you a piece of paper. With careful fingers, you slowly open it; your eyes widen as the large spelling of Wanted hits you.
Arthur Morgan: Dead or Alive. $5,000 Reward.
The words “robbery” and “murders” stood out, causing your body to shake as realization slowly started to creep in.
It all makes sense now: his ability to shoot accurately, his demanding presence, why he was so careful in what he told you.
He was an outlaw, a rather high-profile one at that.
You finally gain the strength to look up from the paper, looking up at the dangerous…but guilt-ridden-looking man.
“When I first met you,” Arthur started. “I thought you were just like any other poor soul who got stranded on the road. Didn’t think much else about it until I saw you again in Van Horn and…you had been plaguing my mind ever since. I don’t know why; maybe it was how you looked at me like I hung the moon or something. Maybe it’s because I’ve been feeling sorry for myself in my old age, but…I found myself wanting to come find you. To see you again. Then I find out you were all alone with no man to protect you, I-I guess I wanted to make sure you were safe. Even though me being here could bring a world of trouble for you.”
He hangs his head, letting out a defeated breath. “I don’t do settled life; been running and hiding from place to place my whole life. But now…I find myself liking it, liking your company.”
“I-I like your company too, very much,” you finally spoke in a whisper. You watched Arthur shake his head at you.
“You don’t have to lie to me. I know this…this thing I just told you scares you. I stayed longer than I should have anyway, so… I’ll just go. You’re gonna survive out here just fine.”
You were so quick to stand up from your chair, holding out your hand as if to stop him.
“Wait.” You take a shaking breath, trying your hardest to collect your thoughts together. “I have known nothing but trouble my whole life, I mean…I live near a bad town. I have to be on my guard from the moment I wake up to the time I allow myself to go to sleep. I never believed I was going to meet a man like the ones I read about…until I met you.”
He gives you a look, but you push on.
“I know it sounds childish, but…you saved my life without knowing me from Adam. Made sure I was safe getting home; no man has ever done that for me before. Not even Bradley. In the time I have spent with you, you have lifted me from the darkest moment of my life and taught me to survive. Bad men don’t do that…and bad men don’t usually tell you they are bad men.”
You take a step closer, placing your hand on his chest. You could feel the heavy beating of his heart pulsing against your hand, feeling your own flutter.
“Arthur…I don’t care what you have done or what you do, and I am not scared of you. If anything, being with you has been the safest I have ever felt in a long time. You are everything they wrote about in books and more.”
Arthur lets out a small scoff, but you could see his face turning pink from a blush.
“You have a very warped sense of judgment in character.” He comments, causing you to laugh.
“I suppose, but…I know it in my heart to be true. You are a good man, Arthur Morgan. You can’t change my mind otherwise, and I don’t want you to go. I…I would feel very empty never seeing you again.”
The air was heavy, the two of you not moving an inch away from one another. Arthur’s large, calloused hand reached up to press against yours, causing your breath to hitch as you looked at your joined hands.
“I can’t stay,” he finally spoke, causing you to look back up at him. God, he had the most beautiful eyes. You felt your heart drop at his words, a wave of sadness washing over you.
“But you can come with me.”
You were certain you gasped, eyes widening as you let the words sink in.
“Really?” You asked, almost as if you imagined it.
“I ain’t leaving you here alone,” he told you. “I may be a fool, but I ain’t that big of a fool.”
Your body buzzed with excitement, happiness, pure joy! You were leaving, leaving with him! Your mind was spinning as he held your hands, quickly bringing you back to reality.
“My life ain’t an easy one,” he told you. “There’s gonna be a lot of picking up and moving if shit gets bad, but if you’ll have me…I swear with everything in me you won’t ever go without.”
Your answer was to pull a big bag from your wardrobe and begin packing. Making sure there was not a trace of you left before hopping on Arthur’s horse as he rode off. You didn’t even bother to look back at the house, or the run-down town that had been your home. No, that was your past, and Arthur was your key to freedom. As long as you were by his side, you knew you had the strength to face anything.
~*~
There was a sketch of you surrounded by men with a small note at the bottom.
“Saved a woman from a bunch of inbreds the other night. The feller she was with practically tried to throw her to the wolves to save his own hide. Poor woman. She said she lived in Van Horn and gave me a bracelet of hers as a thank-you. I didn’t feel right about leaving her to more trouble, so I took her home.”
A couple of pages in, and there was another sketch of you, more up close. It looked like you were smiling; next to it was a page full of words.
“Saw that woman again from Van Horn while I was out doing a fishing job. It didn’t really occur to me until I saw her in the daylight that I realized how pretty she was. How she is surviving in that shitty town, I don’t know. She offered to help me get the big bastard; caught her looking at me a couple of times.
The way she looked at me, as if I was the best thing she had ever seen. Mary used to look at me like that once, but I know better than to fall for such foolishness again. Hell, I suspect she would look like that to a mountain lion if it saved her from those animals.”
Two pages later.
“I keep thinking about her every time I look at that bracelet she gave me. I tried to sell it, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I keep it near me, sort of like a little prize for myself. I wonder if she’s doing okay, if she thinks about me like I do her.
My God Arthur, you are getting too long in the tooth to be acting this way!
Still, I catch myself itching to make a trip to Van Horn just to look for her. A luxury I can not afford right now. I gotta focus on this gang, how to get out of the mess we’re in. If I do that, maybe this feeling I’m getting will ease itself out.”
Several pages later.
“I’m a fool, and old. Sad. Pathetic fool.
Have I learned nothing? Was the heartache I had about Mary not enough to learn my lesson? I recognized her home, a little run-down cabin on a hill. I should have kept going, picked up the pace, and not looked back.
But you know what they say about curiosity.
The way her face lit up seeing me, melting something in me I thought died long ago. I could swear she practically glowed, brighter than the sun itself. She told me her mama had passed, leaving her here pretty much defenseless and alone. The idea bothered me to no end, poor girl was barely surviving. She wasn’t gonna last one more day like she was, and I couldn’t just leave her like this.
I helped kill a rabbit for her, showed her how to skin it. I even gave her my only varmint rifle to help her along. But it wasn’t enough, it’s not enough. This woman was like a lamb with an open wound, it won’t be long before the wolves would catch the scent. Hell, from what she told me, they were sniffing already. And so, like the many foolish decisions I have made in my life, I offered to stay with her. At least until she got the knack of being alone.
Oh, Arthur, what a big idiot you are! Offering her protection from the wolves when you are the biggest wolf of them all.”
Below was a sketch of you mid-skinning the rabbit.
“I remember Hosea telling me once about the time he was playing house with Bessie while away from the group. He told me how surprisingly natural it was, even found himself loving the dull day-to-day of settled life before hearing the call to come back. I never really understood what he meant, until I started doing it myself.
Getting up in the morning and being greeted by her cooking breakfast. Planning the day over a cup of coffee. Walking through busy streets side by side as if we had done it our whole lives. It feels just as natural as breathing. It’s funny, a life like this was never meant for people like me. I pretty much accepted that I would never have a place to hang my hat. But being with her, helping her? She makes me feel like such a thing can be possible.
I still haven’t told her who I really am though. Something I have been selfishly holding off. I know I should tell her the truth, she had been nothing but kind to me the past couple of days. She deserves to know just who she has allowed to be around. Truth be told, the idea of losing that look in her eyes whenever she sees me tears me up inside. Losing Mary was bad enough on a beaten heart like mine, but losing her too? I don’t think I can bear it, pathetic as it sounds.
But I also know I’m on borrowed time, I’ve been away from camp too long, and it won’t be long before they are gonna start looking for me. I need to tell her, tell her everything. I just hope that, if there even is a god, he would spare me just a little.”
The writing on the next page was recent, a full sketch of you along with small sketches of a flower.
“I told her the truth, and she agreed to leave with me. I showed her my wanted poster, gave her an out. And yet, here she is settling in the plantation. To say I was taken completely by surprise would be an understatement, either I finally became the luckiest man alive or she’s more of a fool than I thought.
When I rode up to camp with her, I was met with a whole bunch of eyes staring at us. The girls took to her instantly, pulling her away as soon as she hit the ground where she would be sleeping. I imagine her and Mary-Beth will get along perfectly, being both avid book readers. I, of course, was met with a bunch of nosy questions. Who was she? Where did I find her? How come we know she ain’t a trap from the O’Driscolls? Dutch even questioned it, telling me we got enough mouths to feed. Something is going on with him, but I can’t put my finger on it just yet.
She seems to be taking her new setting pretty well, as if she had been a part of us her whole time. Even caught her picking some flowers from a tree nearby and placing them near her new sleeping area. She seems to really like those flowers, could find some more to give to her.
I know it was crazy to bring her here, but it’s better than where she was living before. She’s gonna be around people who are gonna look out for her, myself included. As long as I still got breath in me, I ain’t letting anything happen to her ever again.
Her words still haunt me, her calling me a good man. How I remind her of the fellers in those books. Lord knows I have done plenty of things that would prove I’m anything but. And yet when I look at her, I feel like I wanna try to be that kind of man for her. And who knows, maybe by some miracle when we finally get the money we need I can take her somewhere where we both won’t have to worry about a thing. Go back to the dull day-to-day she had me enjoying.
Higgs Monaghan why are you so beautiful.........look at you.......the saddest eyes in the loveliest face....you would be worshipped like a god by the masses on instagram
”how do i get people interested in my ocs” TAG THEM. BY NAME. HAVE AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER TAG I CAN LOOK THROUGH. PLEADE. SOURCE TAG AND THEN INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER TAG. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CLICKED THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF “#OC” ON SOMEONES BLOG TO GET THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR ORIGINAL CHARACTER ART I REALLY WANT TO SEE. TOO MANY. THREE HUNDRED POSTS HIDDEN BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH THE “ORIGINAL CHARACTER” TAG AND NOT THE “OCS” TAG ON THEIR BLOG. YOU MUST DO THIS FOR ME.
I’m not gonna lie, AI is pissing me the hell off as a writer because I love having comments about my work. That is really what helps motivate me so to get this through slop kinda hurts.
the bravest souls in fan spaces are the people who selfship with a character that already has a wildly popular ship in the fandom. you looked at a tidal wave of fan meta and fics all pairing your fav with another popular character and said okay. but what if i was the one kissing them instead? extremely powerful aura.
