Like The Wind (Arthur Morgan x Outlaw Reader) Red Dead Redemption 2

thirteen

You, Hosea, and Jack have stumbled upon a more secluded area of the lake where more fish were prevalent. Fishing had never been large part of your life. Lying, stealing, and sometimes even killing were all too easy for you. Fishing? Never. Plenty of patience was required for this kind of activity, which you didn't have all the time. 

"Have you ever gone out fishing before, aunt (name)?" Young Jack excitedly beamed at you. 

This boy had gone through many trials and tribulations just being part of the gang, and especially being the son of John Marston. The young outlaw seemed to never have time to Jack, maybe because he purposely avoided being with his own son, not to mention with his wife, Abigail. You loved John as a brother-like friend for being an honest man. But as a husband and a father, you thought otherwise about that side of him. But despite all that constant hardship Jack faces with his father, he never held even a sliver of anger towards him.

"My ma was an outlaw, not a fisherwoman." You chuckled at the optimistic boy, ruffling his hair in the process. "I ain't ever really gone fishing, so I should never be the one you ask tips from."

You have grown a close friendship with Abigail as well, and she entrusted you enough to be with her young son to look after whenever she was busy doing other camp duties. There were no other young children in this gang, and whenever he wasn't with his mother, he was always with either Arthur or Hosea. It was kind of a good thing sometimes, they filled John's place for being a father who Jack really deserved. 

This was the one thing that you had in common with the young boy; feeling like you never had a father in the first place. The only difference was that sure, John was there physically but he was never really present with Jack. Whereas you, had never even seen your father. You were just glad that it was Hosea and not someone else who filled your absent father's place. 

"You know, aunt (name)..." Jack's voice echoed within your thoughts, "I'm glad I never got used to calling you uncle Stranger. I'm glad I got to know who you really are. There aren't that many lady gunslingers around, and I think that you and your ma both being lady gunslingers is really amazing!" 

Jack's words had flattered you, it was all too often you heard people complimenting about there being women gunslingers. It just felt refreshing. "You've got your ways with words, kid."

"I think uncle Arthur really likes lady gunslingers." Jack continued while noticing you losing your composure. "Sometimes I hear him talking about you with pa."

"O-oh? Is that so?" You asked, masking your nervousness by stretching your arms up in front of the child. "I guess I just never really noticed."

"Speaking of Arthur." Hosea had gently pulled Jack aside, making an opportunity to ask you the questions since you returned back to camp. "Jack my boy, why don't you go over where those flowers are? I remembered you telling me you wanted to make a bracelet for you mother."

"Oh, yes uncle Hosea! I'll go make momma one right now!" With that, the young boy had ran off to the other flower-prominent area and left you and Hosea to talk. It was much easier to ask about your feelings for Arthur without Jack hearing them.

"My dear (name), why did you storm off into camp earlier? Did it have to do anything with Arthur?" Hosea's voice was gentle, similar to that of a concerned father about his child's well being. 

"Sorta..." You sighed, throwing a rock as it skipped across the glimmering lake. "And this bitch named Mary too."

You spotted Hosea's jaw slightly drop from your peripheral. It seemed that he too had also known this Mary. "My Lord, Mary Linton has made an appearance after all these years?" 

"She came up to Arthur begging him for help, he seemed a little shocked to see her to say the least. He looked hesitant to help her at first, but he couldn't resist leaving her younger brother at the hand of the chelonians." You continued, your throw of each rock getting slightly more aggressive. 

"So young Jamie had decided to choose a path along with the turtles. Their father must have really done something to make him do such a radical thing. That poor boy." Hosea shook his head from side to side.

"Well, he sounds like he's full of shit." You retorted back to the older man, who had looked rather unfazed and stifled a laugh instead.

"Damn right you are, (name)." He continued to laugh, as if he was reminiscing about the past. 

"Who is Mary exactly, Hosea? Arthur told me she's an old flame." Your tone was noticeably filled with bitterness. The thought of that woman potentially being with Arthur again had irked you to the core.

"Just like that, my dear. An old flame." Hosea answered back, an exhausted sigh escaping his being. "But she played him like a fiddle like no other. That woman had taken advantage of Arthur too many times to count. I hope you've noticed by now, but Arthur's heart can sometimes be too big. With his strong feelings for Mary before, he could never say no to her. She was always very keen to change Arthur for her version of him being better, mainly because her father had never taken a likin' to him."

"That sounds awful." Your voice merely faded into a whisper. "She... She also said some things to me, Hosea."

"What things?" His tone had suddenly perked up from curiosity. 

"She looked down at me, because I'm an outlaw. Told me that I ain't ever deserving being with..." You paused, only realizing that you were about to confess about how you felt for the outlaw. "Arthur... He... He deserved someone better."

"And that someone would be you, my dear (name)." He flashed you another comforting warm smile, which had easily eased rising tensions within you. 

"M-me???" You fumbled with your words, the imaginary butterflies returning as they fluttered inside your stomach once again. 

"Arthur's feelings for Mary faded long ago. That boy loves ya' a plenty. I ain't ever seen Arthur so smothered to someone like that in years." The older man then placed a hand on your shoulder. "I've seen the way the two of ya' stare at each other. Even more so how he looks at you, (name). Just be patient with Arthur, he'll eventually turn up." 

"Well, he better not take too long then, Hosea." You teased your now father-figure.

"Speaking of Arthur my dear." Hosea nudged his head signalling you turn around, earning a surprised expression from you when you saw exactly who it was. 

"Hey..." Arthur greeted breathlessly in that deep, husky tone of his. "We uh... I gotta tell y' somethin'."

You turned to see a smirk forming on Hosea's lips, as if he was mentally saying the word 'finally.' "Run along now, you too. I can handle Jack by myself."