Pretty as an Angel (Arthur Morgan X Reader)

Chapter 20 - Colm's Last Run

Milton and his men crouched silently by the roaring O'driscoll camp. Fire blazed in the centre surrounded by drunken men, shouting and singing.

Milton turned to you as you joined them, "You clear on the plan?"

Nodding you adjusted your shirt and inhaled sharply, you held Arthur's warm hand tightly.

From the left side of the fire by the concrete shed you were previously held in, an O'driscoll alerted the drunken members that you and Sadie were missing. That was your cue. Exhaling and giving Arthur's hand one last squeeze, you stood up and walked confidently into your capture's camp, your Lancaster repeater loaded and positioned on your dominant shoulder.

"Looking for me boys?" You retorted to grab their attention before emptying round after round into them. Milton and his men joined in soon after, cutting through the fifty-something gang with ease. Arthur came to your side and fired shots accurately as usual, straight through the foreheads of the O'driscolls. They fell limp onto the dirt floor one by one.

Limp bodies of O'driscolls were strewn across the camp, except one. Colm.

Milton ordered his men to tear through the camp to find him, they ripped through tents and makeshift shacks with no luck.

"Shit!" Arthur exclaimed out of nowhere, "Milton he's turning tail!" He pointed at Colm who was riding away from the camp.

"You got your rifle Mr Morgan?" Asked Milton.

Arthur swung his rifle from his shoulder and lined up the scope, he followed Colm through the glass waiting for the perfect moment to gain a headshot. Eyes squinted and finger poised Arthur made his move, an almighty bang ring through the trees and over the landscape. In the distance Colm's horse kept riding a few more metres before it stopped, leaving Colm hanging lifeless off the side of it.

"Go get em boys." Milton ordered his men, they rammed their spurs into their horses and rode away, their strong horses kicking up huge clouds of dust as they followed the rogue horse.

"Mr Morgan, thank you for your help once again. Colm should bring a nice amount of money in for us, and you." Milton said plainly.

"Thanks Mr Milton, do you need me for anything else or am I free to head back?" Asked Arthur,

"You can go, I'll need to see you in the week though, to talk things over Mr Morgan." Milton's suspicious proposition caused Arthur to reach for your hand and squeeze it tightly.

"Sure." Arthur replied, he turned graciously to his horse and mounted it, grabbing your hand he pulled you onto his lap and wrapped his arm around you. The horse whinnied as he patted it before using the reins to turn it in the direction back to the ranch.

"How you holding up (y/n)?" He asked,

"Not so bad, just wanna get back, are you okay?" You asked him back.

Arthur nodded and sped his horse for the final stretch back to the ranch, it galloped over the dusty terrain weaving in between rocks and clusters of cacti before reaching the gates to the ranch.

Upon arrival everything looked as you had left it, tranquil and organised, Jack was tending to the chickens and Abigail sat with John on the porch. As you and Arthur rode slowly up the path the two of them stood up and ran over to you.

"(Y/n)! Oh my I'm so glad you're alright!" She smiled and threw her arms around you squeezing the air out of your lungs.

"Abigail it's good to see you, but you're squeezing too tight." You winced.

She quickly retracted and cast a sorry gaze, her chestnut eyes glimmering in the evening sun.

"Come inside, let's get you patched up," she grabbed your hand gently and pulled you inside the house.

The smell of fresh stew instantly filled your nose as you entered through the front door, a large pit was on the stove with the thick chunky contents bubbling away in it.

"You hungry?" Abigail asked as she picked up a large spoon and bowl, you nodded and she proceeded to dish up two spoonfuls. You sat at the rectangular table and slowly ate the hot stew, it tasted amazing, the meat melted in your mouth and the vegetables were a mixture of crunchy textures and buttery.

Arthur and John joined you at the table quickly followed by young Jack who was yapping away at his father about the chickens. Abigail dished everyone out a portion of stew before sitting down herself to eat hers.

"We've got to meet Milton sometime this week," Arthur started, placing another spoonful in his mouth, "Don't know what he wants, probably more bounty work."

"That man is gonna play us like a fiddle Arthur can't you see that?" Interjected John,

Placing the last scraping of the bowl onto his spoon he stared at John, his cyan blue eyes squinted at him, "We don't have a choice John, can't you see that?" John's statement had made Arthur angry, he thanked Abigail for the stew and excused himself to the bedroom. You followed like a lost puppy.