Bards Crossings • Arthur Morgan x Reader

𝐗

Apprehensiveness seeped through your body. Yourself and Arthur thought it best to head to the stables, a little south of the vicinity of Strawberry - keeping Arthur out of sight, hopefully retrieving Onyx in the process.

Entering the clearing, a stable hand was logging hay bales for a few Morgan's, whinnying in delight at the sight of the gold straw being placed in the paddock.

Jumping down from Caliban, you approached the stable hand. "Hey there," you started, "You haven't had a Thoroughbred Mare brought here, have y'?"

The stable hand wiped his glove across his forehead, "Yeah, but I need t' see paper's first," the man demanded, "I ain't just handin' her out t' anyone, she's a powerful horse. Could get some money for her." He retorted.

"Like hell," you spat, "her papers are in my saddle bag." You stormed off inside the stable. Noticing your mare in the far end, you ran over, kissing her snout. "Oh my gosh, girl, I am so sorry." Onyx nickered in approval.

Arthur followed behind, reaching over your shoulder to pat Onyx on the neck. Opening the gate, you reached inside your satchel that was looped around the horn of the saddle. Locating the papers, you stormed back to the stable hand, "There," you stuffed the papers in his hands. Your Mother and Father's signatures stating that it was your horse.

"How dare you even think—" you hissed, before being interrupted by Arthur, "(y/n), c'mon, he gets it, Thanks Mister!" Arthur chirped, placing his hands on your shoulders, ushering you out of the stable.

"That ass was gon' sell her!" Hissing once again at Arthur, "Yeah, and y'r forgettin' I'm a wanted man." He grabbed your shoulder again, pulling you toward him reminding you of the subtlety you needed to maintain.

"You're right." He removed his grip from your shoulder as the stable hand brought Onyx out into the clearing. "Here's y' papers, Miss." Disappointedly handing the certificates back to you.

Mounting Onyx, yourself and Arthur dipped down into the opening of the trail leading to Strawberry.

"I'll meet y' at Riggs Station." Directed Arthur as he turned Caliban. "Okay, I wont be too long," you replied, "H'ya." Coercing your mare into a canter, following the muddy trail back to Strawberry.

The sun had dipped slightly in the pink-hued sky. Small, fluffy clouds strewn out like broken bits of candy floss. Strawberry felt alien to you now, a town you once felt safe in did not feel like home.

The settlement was still recuperating from the recent gunfire, bullet holes dotted across crates, shops and a few windows. Broken glass dropped in mud. You hitched just outside the Sheriff's office.

"(y/n)?! Sheriff!!" Farley called in an alarmed tone. "Oh my gosh, (y/n), we though y' were dead!" You laughed, their genuine concern made your heart swell.

"I'm fine." You replied. "But that feller took y'?!"

"I managed to get away." You lied, "A bounty hunter knows her way out of a hogtie." Adding a little more depth to the façade. Sheriff Hadley stood in the doorway, folding his arms; propping himself slightly on the frame.

"Y'r a sight for sore eyes." He smiled. Guilt pooled in your stomach, Hadley was nursing a black eye and a few cuts to his face, you noticed men working on rebuilding his jail cell. "Oh, Sheriff.." You consoled him from afar. "It's nothin'." He scoffed.

"Listen, I—I think I'm gon' take a break.." you started, apprehensively. Your omission did not come as a surprise to Hadley and Farley. "You've worked real hard for us, Miss (y/n), y' don't need to give us no explanation." Reassured Hadley.

"As soon as we find the whereabouts of these fellers who did this to our town, y' better get yourself back here." Vengeance lacing his tone. Little did he know, you knew exactly where they were. The irony of the situation looming at Riggs Station.

"We'll see, Sheriff," you began, "These outlaw's might be a slight bit out of my remit." Hauling yourself back onto Onyx's saddle.

"We got Pinkerton's hovering 'round us like flies on horseshit." Farley hissed.

"I didn't expect anythin' less." Your voice strained back to Farley, from the short distance you'd created.

Kicking Onyx with your spurs, you waved your hand back at the Sheriff and his Deputy. Gravitas of the situation you were now involved hung heavily on your mind, juxtaposing the calm you felt amidst the chaos. The most at peace you'd felt in years.

Crossing the railway tracks at the station, you noticed Arthur hauling a deer carcass onto Caliban. His tan buckskin coat now slumped across the saddle, exposing the white shirt sleeves that tightened with the contraction of his muscled arms, securing the deer on his steeds back.

"How'd it go?" He huffed. Glancing at you through his Gambler hat, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Good," you started, "I just said I'm takin' a break from bounty hunting." Arthur's eyebrows raised, "Uh—okay."

"I mean—If that's okay, I—." You stuttered. You selfishly presumed that it would not be imposing if you stayed with the gang.

"Of course it is," Arthur interrupted your racing thoughts, "I already told Dutch y' had no where else, I'm just—I don't know, surprised I guess." Arthur admitted.

"Here," he gestured over to another deer carcass, "could y' get that on y'r horse?" He offered to help. "I still ain't needin' no help, Arthur." Dragging the cold meat over your shoulder. Blood smeared over your cotton work shirt.

Arthur smiled wholesomely, "That's my girl." He husked. Smirking back at him, this cowboy did not realise how his words caused your stomach to flip excitedly.

Tacking across The Heartlands, meandering towards camp, your mind wondered to the possibilities that Arthur felt the same likening towards you as you did him.

There was no hiding this flame igniting between you, the way he gazed at you only kindled the embers flickering away deep in your stomach.