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

chapter 24; mister s

You had only ever heard of Annesburg, never having a chance to go there yourself. It's always been an inconvenient distance away and being that's it's just a quaint mining town, you've never had reason to go until now. It took you the majority of the remaining daylight to make the ride there and now that you're here, you're dumbfounded on where to even begin searching. There is no saloon, store or hotel. For the most part, it's just offices, homes for the workers and of course the mine.

To others, you probably looked crazy wondering circles around the town in the last hours of the day. You peered down each alleyway and behind every building in search for Charles - or just anyone familiar. It takes awhile to put two and two together, that searching for an outlaw in the middle of town probably wasn't going to be a very fruitful operation. Much to the pleasure of the town folk, you head to the forest on the outskirts of town.

Sure enough, along the Kamassa river, you find a clue. In the middle of a clearing there's a camp with day old ash in the fire pit. You were about to skip past it when you recognize the horse hitched to a tree nearby. You dismount and take a closer look. If this was Charles, he wouldn't have gone far on foot and surely would be back soon. Patting the Nokota mount and sneaking him treat, you hear footsteps coming up behind you.

"Falmouth. That's her name." A deep, smooth voice calls out.

You smile and turn to find Charles, exactly who you'd been searching for.

"I remember." You grin, walking forward to meet him halfway.

"Taima was originally my girl. Arthur needed her more than I did and that's when Falmouth and I found each other." He nods in her direction.

You wrap your arms around him in a tight tug. "I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to find you. How did you get away?"

"After...Hosea... I took the opportunity to run. Dutch and the others put up a good fight but there were too many of them. As far as I know, they all surrendered and were arrested."

"They're going to hang them tomorrow morning."

Charles shakes his head, a twinge of survivors guilt hitting him hard.

"Where are the others? Have you found them yet?" Your head tilts like a curious dog.

"They've settled in a place called Beaver Hollow, it's not far from here. I'd take you to them but we don't have time. It's gonna take us all night to get back to Saint Denis." Charles turns from you, heading back to Falmouth. You follow after him, mounting your own horse.

"Does that mean you're going to help me save him... them?" You correct yourself, not wanting to come across as selfish for focusing on Arthur.

"I know you're worried about him, [Y/N], we'll get there in time." He nods his head firmly and leads you both out of his makeshift camp. "You don't look like yourself. Are you okay? Where have you been during all this?" His eyes fall to the bloody clothing poking from the saddle bag you'd stuffed them into.

"I uh... I'm fine. I woke up in the Saint Denis doctor office this morning." Your words are careful, not yet sure of how much you want to tell him.

"Were you shot?"

"No."

"Don't lie, if you need to ride wi.."

"I lost our baby." The words pour out along with unexpected tears. You'd been bottling them in and they suddenly came pouring forth. Charles looks down at his horse, unsure of what to say. For a short moment, you just sob, shoulder shaking and breath uneven and heavy. It's relieving to let it out though it doesn't take the grief away.

"I'm sorry Charles. I... I didn't even mean to say that. We hadn't told anyone and I... I have just been so stressed out.."

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, it's okay." He pushes his horse over to you, stretching over the gap to give you a hug. "We're gonna find him. He'll... be upset... but it'll all be okay, [Y/N]. He's just gonna be relieved that you're safe."

You nod, his words convincing you that there is still hope for that future you'd pictured with Arthur. Tempted to lay there in his kind, comforting friendship, you manage to pull yourself back into reality.

"Let's not waste any more time. We've got work to do." You let go of him, wiping your eyes and managing a weak smile. He nods in agreement and takes the lead back to Saint Denis.

Charles pushes you both to a sprint, fighting the clock to get back to what matters most to both of you. Your newfound family.