𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗜 ➳ 𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖.

"Arthur did good with your hand," Abigail informed her. Eleanor watched as Abigail touched up the stitches that Arthur had done, a clean bandage sitting beside the raven-haired woman. Eleanor nodded as she looked out towards Jack who played a few feet away in the dirt with a wooden horse. 

"Yeah, I was lucky to have him. I couldn't imagine trying to do stitches with my left hand," Eleanor snorted, earning a chuckle from Abigail. Eleanor winced in pain when Abigail accidently bumped the sensitive skin around the bullet wound. "How's things been while we've been gone?" 

Eleanor noticed Abigail hesitated to answer, the woman pausing before she must've noticed herself. Abigail quickly started up again before a sigh escaped her lips. Abigail stopped what she was doing and sat upright, staring back at Eleanor. 

"Micah's been getting close to Dutch-"

"That's already painfully clear," Eleanor scoffed.

"No I know. But I mean more close," Abigail hissed. Eleanor looked at Abigail in shock, surprised the woman noticed such things. She was always so busy with Jack and helping Pearson out with the cooking. "Dutch has been getting Micah to do most of the jobs he normally gives to all the boys. They're always talking, more than what you and Arthur have seen. Micah's got something up his sleeve, I just know it," Abigail's voice was low to a hushed level, low enough for only her and Eleanor's ears. Abigail noticed the surprised expression on Eleanor's face and her brows knitted together. "What? You think just because I have to mother Jack that I don't notice these things? I don't want Jack to grow up in this life, of course I'm going to notice when things start to shift."

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just surprised he's trying again after what happened last time," Eleanor apologised to the woman. Abigail seemed to ease up as he defensive look disappeared. "Do you have any idea of what he could be scheming?" Abigail shook her head in answer. 

"No. But I have a feeling it's about you or Arthur. That's what scares me," Abigail muttered before picking up her supplies again and grabbing Eleanor's hand. 

"Arthur? Really?" Eleanor questioned. There's no way Dutch could possibly turn on Arthur, not after everything they've been through. Sure, they don't see eye to eye on some things but Arthur has never let him down. He's been nothing but loyal to him. 

"Well Micah couldn't get his way with you so I don't see why he wouldn't try on Arthur," Abigail shrugged before biting on her bottom lip as she focused on the stitches. 

"But Bill said things seemed normal. He said Dutch seemed worried about us and that Micah was still slithering his way back into Dutch's good books," Eleanor explained. 

"Bill's a fool blinded by the outlaw's code. Sure, He's right but he's also blind if he didn't see them seeming comfortable in conversation together. Dutch is letting his guard back down, Micah's getting exactly what he wants. Micah isn't doing all of Dutch's errands to get back into the good books," Abigail paused and looked up at Eleanor. "He's doing it because Dutch trusts him enough to."

Eleanor shuddered at the words that left the woman's mouth. She knew the only reason Abigail was staying in the gang was because she wanted Jack to have a Father and because of Hosea. Hosea was like the Father Abigail never had. Both Hosea and John meant the world to her. Abigail's words seemed more reliable than the words of Bill who was both dumb and loyal. Sure, Abigail was just as much apart of the gang as Bill is, but she wasn't the type of person to let her loyalty blind her from the things going on. 

"I'm sorry, darlin'," Abigail murmured as she focused back on Eleanor's hand, realising that Eleanor's silence spoke how she felt. "Just know a lot of us trust you, if not all of us. I trust you," Abigail nodded, giving Eleanor a small smile. She knew the woman was trying to make her feel better.