Blessed are the Peacemakers {[RDR2 Arthur X Reader]}

chapter 9; old sheriff in town

Dim light poured into your tent, the dew from the early morning moisture had formed on your bedroll and covered everything with damp layer. A pain twanged in your head, giving an unwelcome reminder of your wild excursions from the night before. Memories rolled in, foggy and not piecing together. You attempt to rub the sleep and pain from your eyes before climbing out of your bed. It must be fairly early because the entire camp is almost completely silent aside from Pearson who was getting a jump start on the breakfast meal. Perhaps everybody was suffering the same inflictions that you were.

You quietly greeted the fat sweaty cook and asked if you could borrow a small pot from him. He had one to spare this morning so you gratefully took it, filling it with fresh water and a dash of salt before setting it on the fire to warm. Once it had started bubbling, you sliced up a lemon someone had managed to procure during an errand to town and threw into the hot water. A good cure for a hangover.

After pouring yourself a cup and setting the pot on one of the rocks that formed the campfire to stay warm for anyone else who would need it, you wondered to the edge of the Horseshoe Overlook camp. The view with the rising sun coming over the distant mountains was breath taking and you were partially thankful to have this small bit of time to yourself to take it in. You'd just finally gotten comfortable, leaning against a tree with your mug of 'all better juice' when you hear something trudging through the brush in your direction. You spun around to find Arthur, bright eyed and bushy tailed and not making any attempts to stay quiet.

"There y' are." he bellered, standing over you.

His loud voice sent a shock through your brain once more.

"Ugh...quiet please." You bark at him, rubbing your temples with your thumb.

"Sorry." He grumbles, managing to lower his voice while taking a seat beside you. "Figured you'd be waking me up with questions this morning. Started worryin' you'd run off when I found your bedroll empty." Without asking, he took your cup and stole a big ole swig of it, making a disgusted face when he realized it wasn't coffee.

"Hey that isn't yours! I'm not in the mood to be sharing this morning." You steal the tin mug back from him, slugging some down quickly. He scoffs at you, collecting that you were very hung over.

"So... you don't remember much of last night do y'?" He looked at you with a stern face. You shook your head at him, continuing to take long sips of your concoction.

"Not really... I remember attempting to climb the trees with Karen and... something about trying take a nap on Tilly's lap." You both break out in laughter. "None of it exactly portrays a good picture of me." You laugh again but this time Arthur doesn't join you.

"I guess what I should've asked is... you don't remember bumping into anybody...familiar?" He quizzed, watching your face carefully.

"Uh... no." you laugh nervously. "What are you talking about?"